How Heat Pumps Work (No Magic, Just Physics) (2026)

Описание: Heat pumps sound like a trick: how does a machine pull warmth from cold outdoor air and bring it indoors? Spoiler: it is not magic, and it is not “making heat.” A heat pump mostly moves heat from one place to another, using electricity to run a compressor and fans.

In this video, the visuals walk through the real, engineering-grade idea behind modern heat pumps used for home heating and cooling. You see heat moving from warmer objects to cooler ones (because heat loves the easy path), then you see how a heat pump forces that heat to move in the direction people actually want.

The key concept is the refrigeration cycle, the same physics behind a refrigerator. A special fluid called a refrigerant circulates through coils and components. In one coil, the refrigerant evaporates at low pressure, absorbing heat from the surrounding air. Then a compressor squeezes that vapor, raising its pressure and temperature. In another coil, the refrigerant condenses back toward liquid, releasing heat into the surrounding air. After that, an expansion device drops the pressure again so the cycle repeats.

When the goal is heating, the outdoor coil absorbs heat and the indoor coil releases it. When the goal is cooling, the system reverses so the indoor coil absorbs heat (and moisture) from indoor air, and the outdoor coil dumps that heat outside. That “reversing” happens through a reversing valve, so the same machine works as both heater and air conditioner.

Because the heat pump mostly moves existing heat rather than creating it, it often delivers more heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes. That is why efficiency is commonly discussed using the coefficient of performance: a value above one means the device transfers more heat than the electricity it uses.

You also see real-world details: frosting on the outdoor coil in cold weather, defrost cycles, airflow, condensation and drainage during cooling, and why insulation and correct sizing matter. The point is simple: heat pumps work because phase changes, pressure changes, and heat transfer work—every single time.



Video Timestamps
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00:00 - How Heat Pumps Work Introduction
00:34 - Heat always moves downhill
01:14 - Parts and the refrigerant loop
01:55 - Heating mode and defrost reality
02:44 - Cooling mode and humidity
03:29 - Efficiency, limits, smart choices
04:23 - How Heat Pumps Work Ending




Webpage Sources
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The following URLs were used to check the facts used in the production of this video :
1. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/he...
2. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/ai...
3. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/ge...
4. https://www.iea.org/reports/heat-pumps
5. https://www.britannica.com/technology...
6. https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/




Video : V037 - How Heat Pumps Work (No Magic, Just Physics)