Heat pumps

A heat pump is an HVAC system that uses electricity to heat and cool your home. In the summer, heat pumps act as air conditioners by transporting heat from inside your home, outside. In the winter, heat pumps take heat from outside and deposit it into your home. That means, heat pumps can heat your home when it’s cold outside, and cool your home as temperatures rise.

SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures how efficiently your heat pump cools your home — the higher the SEER, the more efficient your heat pump is at cooling. There’s no magic number when it comes to SEER ratings, but heat pumps with a SEER of 13 or higher are generally good investments. Additionally, look for heat pumps that are ENERGY STAR® certified, which means they meet the rigorous energy efficiency standards set by the federal government and have a good SEER rating.

HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, measures how efficiently your heat pump heats your home — the higher the HSPF, the more efficient your heat pump is at heating. Similar to SEER ratings, there isn’t a perfect HSPF rating for your heat pump, but a good rule of thumb is to look for systems that have an HSPF of 9 or higher. Plus, investing in an ENERGY STAR® certified system means your heat pump has met the rigorous energy efficiency standards set by the federal government and has a good HSPF rating.

If you’re facing an issue with your current heat pump, our Repair or Replace tool can help you determine the best next step for your home. Generally speaking, replacement makes sense if your heat pump is over 10 years old, has a SEER rating of 10 or less, has an HSPF rating of 8 or less, requires frequent repairs, or is the cause of increased energy costs.

The biggest difference between a heat pump and a ductless (also known as mini-split) heat pump is the amount of space in which the system can control the temperature. A traditional heat pump is part of a central heating and cooling system, which means it utilizes ductwork to distribute newly warmed or cooled air throughout your entire home. On the other hand, a mini-split heat pump does not use ductwork; instead it heats and cools just the room or space where it was directly installed.

When it comes to a heat pump vs. furnace, there are two big differences to keep in mind. First, a heat pump can both heat and cool your home, while a furnace typically only heats your home. Second, these two HVAC systems generate heat in different ways. While a furnace uses a fuel source like gas or propane to create heat, a heat pump uses electricity.