How to know if a unit has heat pump

It might help if we knew what RV you are looking at. Motorhome, 5th Wheel or Travel Trailer?
Does it have roof top units or is it in the basement?

You need an air conditioner in the hot and humid weather.
Heat pump works to heat in the winter. Most do not work well below 40 degrees.

The thermostat should have settings for ac, heat pumps and furnace if so equipped. If there is not a separate setting for heat pumps you don't have them. If it has the setting plug the unit in and see if they work.

We found out that it DOES have a heat pump. Fifth wheel. It was an option for the Cameos. What is the advantage of a heat pump over the regular A/C? We are in the hot/humid South and will need to live in it for about a year.

janegowest wrote:
We found out that it DOES have a heat pump. Fifth wheel. It was an option for the Cameos. What is the advantage of a heat pump over the regular A/C? We are in the hot/humid South and will need to live in it for about a year.

Heat pump is what the name suggests, it produces HEAT. It is a combo A/C and heater.

Jim

Heat pumps have zero to do with air condition air other than there is a heat strip (think "like a toaster" heat strip) which uses the AC fan to blow the limited heat it produces into the rig. As said, it is not terribly effective in real cold weather because of the limited amps. Its advantage is if you have a chill in the air and are in an RV park using non metered electricity. Then you can use the heat pump to warm the rig up using the park's electricity rather than your own propane via you more efficient (in terms of dealing with colder temps) furnace. Where I live we never have cold temps, just cold chills once in awhile, and my condo does not have a furnace, just a heat pump. When traveling and in an electricity furnished cg, I can't remember the last time I've used my propane furnace - just the heat pump and, if needed, I might pull out the electric blanket. When bookdocking, I'll use the heat pump if the genny is running otherwise the furnace.

For cooling heat pumps function like a normal AC unit except there are some efficiency differences between them. In mild weather a heat pump has a reversing valve that allows it to take heat from the outside air and blow it inside the camper. In this mode camper heat pumps usually work down to about 40 degrees. Then the furnace takes over at temperatures below that. AC units sometimes have electrical heat strip units in them making them useful in mild conditions for heat. This arrangement is not a heat pump. Also in a household heat pump system they generally have what is called emergency heat which can be an electric heat strip or a gas furnace. Generally household heat pumps will provide heat down into the 20s or lower.
Camper heat pumps are much like the household units but not as sophisticated.

Thanks, Dave. Is it any better than a regular camper A/C?

Jane - It has nothing to do with A/C, except that the system reverses to make heat when you need it. The question you should ask is 'Is it better then a furnace ?"

I think Dave answered your question.

Keep in mind that if the unit is plumbed into the ductwork, when you switch to the heat pump, you will get heat coming out of the ceiling ducts - not ideal because heat rises. That is why I like my furnace - it has separate ducts in the floor.

I think the main advantage to a heat pump is contained in Avan's answer. You can use park electricity instead of your own propane. But that only works if you are not paying for electricity separately. And remember that a heat pump starts getting very inefficient when the temps drop below about 32 degrees. The thing will run and run but generate very little heat.

Think of a heat pump as the reverse of an A/C unit. A heat pump pulls heat from the outside air and pushes the heat into your camper. So when the outside air gets colder, there is less and less heat that it can pull (efficiently) from that air. And unfortunately for you, that's exactly when you will want more heat.

So, in terms of the A/C, which would be more efficient in hot/humid conditions? A regular 15,000BTU a/C or the heat pump?

As long as both A/C units have the same number of BTUs, I don't believe there would be any difference. But I am not an expert on heat pumps (but did have one when I had a house in Florida).