Cengage Learning Heat Pumps

Why I Picked Up This Book

I bought this book because I needed a single, trustworthy reference that could serve both as a teaching aid for apprentices and as a desk-side resource for my own design and troubleshooting work. I wasn’t looking for a pocket field manual; I wanted something that explains not just what to do, but why. This text hit that mark. It’s a substantial second edition—662 pages—and it reads like a complete course on heat pumps: from principles and components to performance, selection, installation, and service.

What Stands Out

Two things impressed me early on. First, the structure is logical. It starts with fundamentals of the refrigeration cycle and heat pump specifics, then moves into components (compressors, reversing valves, expansion devices), and later into performance metrics, design, and service procedures. You can read front to back, or drop into a chapter for a very specific task.

Second, the diagrams and schematics are practical. Chapter 5, which tackles schematic and ladder diagrams, is a highlight. The way it breaks complex circuits into digestible segments makes it much easier to follow power flow, identify control logic, and isolate faults. I used that approach on a call with intermittent heat during defrost and it saved me from shotgun parts replacement. By walking the ladder, I isolated a weak defrost relay coil that only failed under load.

Depth Without Shortcuts

The coverage is thorough. Key areas that proved useful to me:

• System performance and ratings: COP, HSPF, SEER, and what these mean in real-world operation. The explanation of balance point, auxiliary heat strategies, and how comfort and cost trade off is especially helpful for setting homeowner expectations.
• Components and operation: Clear discussions of reversing valves, check valves, accumulators, and crankcase heaters. The text doesn’t just label parts; it explains function and failure modes.
• Airflow and duct considerations: It’s not a duct design book, but it gives enough guidance on airflow targets, static pressure, and filtration impact to keep an installation honest.
• Refrigerant-side diagnostics: Solid, step-by-step guidance on measuring superheat and subcooling, assessing charge, and avoiding common pitfalls like chasing non-existent restrictions.
• Controls and troubleshooting: From basic thermostat logic to outdoor sensors and defrost strategies (time-temperature vs. demand-based), it offers checklists and flow-like sequences that translate well to the field.

The tone is technical but approachable. I could hand sections to a first-year tech and they would get it, and I still found plenty of nuance as someone who’s been at this for years.

Using It In Practice

I used the book to plan an equipment replacement in a drafty mid-century ranch. The load calculations were done elsewhere, but the sections on selecting capacity, understanding the performance map, and staging auxiliary heat helped me align expectations. I also drew on the installation guidance around line set considerations and airflow targets to create a commissioning checklist. Later, during a cold snap, that same system struggled in defrost. The ladder diagram methodology from the book guided my diagnostic process and got me to the culprit quickly.

For teaching, I’ve used the component chapters and the wiring section to build short modules for apprentices. The progression from simple schematics to full ladder logic is excellent for classroom-to-field transition.

Where It Shows Its Age

This second edition came out in 2015. It’s still very relevant, but there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Refrigerants: The context is primarily the R-410A era. If you’re working with newer low-GWP refrigerants, the thermodynamic fundamentals here apply, but updated safety, charging, and handling specifics may need supplemental resources.
• Inverter-driven systems: Variable-speed, inverter-driven equipment is addressed, but not with the depth you’ll find in more recent, manufacturer-specific materials. Expect less emphasis on advanced diagnostics through communicating controls and proprietary fault trees.
• Codes and best practices: Commissioning expectations and standards have evolved. The book’s guidance is sound, but you’ll want to cross-check against current local codes, utility programs, and manufacturer procedures.

None of this is a deal-breaker; it’s the natural limitation of a technical text published at that time. For foundational understanding and general practice, it still holds up well.

Readability and Design

It’s a textbook, and it reads like one. The prose is precise and occasionally dry, especially in sections heavy with definitions and terminology. That said, the clarity is a feature. The authors avoid hand-waving; each concept is built step by step, and the illustrations are purposeful rather than decorative. I’d rather have a clear, slightly dry explanation than a breezy one that misses the point.

Physically, it’s a substantial read. It’s not a glovebox reference. I keep it on the bench and tab the chapters I reach for most: electrical diagrams, defrost, charging, and performance evaluation.

What I Would Improve

• More modern case studies: Real-world examples of inverter systems, cold-climate operation, and communicating controls would add value for today’s installs.
• Quick-reference summaries: Each chapter ends with well-structured material, but a one-page “field summary” for common tasks (charging, airflow verification, defrost checks) would make it even more useful on a service call.
• Expanded commissioning content: A deeper dive into documenting commissioning data and tying it to performance maps would bridge the gap between theory and utility or manufacturer requirements.

Who Will Benefit Most

• Technicians and apprentices who want to build strong fundamentals and practical troubleshooting habits.
• Installers and commissioning teams who need a shared understanding of airflow, charge, and controls basics.
• Designers and energy auditors who want a reliable refresher on heat pump performance, balance point, and auxiliary heat strategies.
• Instructors looking for a structured, comprehensive textbook with clear diagrams and teachable sequences.

If you’re only after quick lookups in the field, a condensed service manual or manufacturer app might be a better fit. If you want depth and a durable foundation you can apply across brands, this is a strong choice.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of It

• Start with the fundamentals, then jump to the chapters that match your current work. It’s easy to cross-reference without getting lost.
• Tab Chapter 5 for schematics and ladders. Use its method on every wiring problem until it becomes second nature.
• Pair it with current manufacturer literature, especially for inverter systems or refrigerants not widely covered in 2015.
• Build your own commissioning and troubleshooting checklists based on the book’s procedures; they adapt well to varied equipment.

The Bottom Line

This book earns a spot on my bench because it balances theory and practice without cutting corners. It’s thorough, clearly organized, and directly useful on real jobs—particularly in wiring diagnostics, performance evaluation, and the nuts and bolts of components and operation. It shows its age in newer equipment specifics, but the core content remains solid and reliable.

Recommendation: I recommend this book for technicians, students, and designers who want a comprehensive, trustworthy reference on heat pump principles, design, and service. It’s not flashy, and parts of it read like the textbook it is, but the clarity, depth, and practical diagram work more than justify the time and space it requires. Pair it with up-to-date manufacturer resources, and you’ll have a durable foundation that pays off in better installs, faster diagnostics, and more confident decision-making.