How Does Heat Recovery VRF Work?
In our last post, we discussed variable refrigerant flow or VRF in relation to air conditioners, but heat recovery systems can be VRF systems as well. With the proper flow of refrigerant, a heat recovery system can send heat towards the rooms in a home or commercial building that need it most. For more open spaces especially, this method of heating is appreciated, as from corner to corner, the area is evenly warmed.
Heat recovery VRF systems can also sometimes heat and cool a space at the same time, and all from one condensing unit. We’ve discussed this on the blog before, but it never gets less amazing. Instead of having a separate air conditioner and heater, you can get all your cooling needs from the heat recovery VRF system. You could save on the cost of the unit as well as maintenance, as you only need to take care of the VRF system, not two units.
There’s a difference between heat recovery VRF and heat pump VRF systems, so we wanted to take the time to discuss these now.
Heat pump VRF systems can cool and heat, but not at the same time. For however many indoor air-handling units you have, they’re all running on the same setting, be that cooling or heating. You can change modes or settings individually, but then the unit has to switch to standby until the other indoor units move to the new mode.
To switch modes, you can activate automatic changeover settings. These settings tell the heat pump VRF system to go to a different mode if the temperature is higher than what you set by at least four degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes eight degrees.
The master controller, which is programmable, is a second way to between heating to cooling modes, and you can also do so manually using your central controller.
Compare that to a heat recovery VRF system. Your indoor air-handling units take energy from when your system is heating or cooling, then sends that energy to the other indoor units so they can enter a separate mode than the original indoor unit’s mode. This is how you get that simultaneous heating and cooling ability.
It should come as no surprise that heat recovery VRF systems are renowned for their energy efficiency. While the figures vary, you might be able to save 30 percent on your energy bill, which is a considerable amount to shave off every month.
Ready to Discuss Your Heating and Cooling Options? Call PowerSave AC
At PowerSave AC, our team is all about more efficiently heating and cooling your home or commercial building. We specialize in ductless mini split systems and VRF systems. With our energy savings calculator, you can be sure of exactly how much money you can pocket using our heating and cooling solutions.
Just tell us your region in the United States, your current electric rate in cents per kilowatt hours, your air conditioner’s capacity, the SEER of your current AC, and the SEER of your new air conditioner. Our calculator will then determine how much money you can save this year as well as year over year.
Sources:
https://www.361degrees.co.uk/resources/news/2015/11/20/what-is-a-heat-recovery-vrf-system
https://digital.bnpmedia.com/publication/?i=113979&article_id=1079986&view=articleBrowser
