What Is a Heat Pump? An In-depth Guide

Let's start with the basics: what is a heat pump? By name alone, it sounds like a simple home heating system. But it can also cool your home in warmer months. In fact, heat pumps have historically been used more for cooling. Only in recent years has heat pump technology evolved to handle subfreezing temperatures, and now there are models designed for colder areas. Thanks to these advancements, over 17 million homes had heat pumps installed by 2020.

What Does a Heat Pump Do?

There are a few different types of heat pumps, but they all achieve the same result. Let's go over how a heat pump works. To use your heat pump for cooling, it takes hot air from inside and transfers it outdoors. To heat your home, it extracts heat from outside (yes, even in extremely cold temperatures) and transfers it indoors to keep things cozy and comfortable.

Types of Home Heat Pumps

In the U.S., we primarily use air-source heat pumps, due to their efficiency and reasonable price. While geothermal or ground-source heat pumps are more efficient, they're also significantly more expensive since they require the installation of in-ground pipes. Let's go over how each type works.

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Air-source heat pumps come in several varieties. Which type you choose for your home depends on your needs and if you already have central heating or cooling that uses a duct system. Air-source heat pump types include:

• Central, split, or ducted heat pumps: With outdoor units that look almost identical to AC units, these heat pumps use your home's duct system to move temperature-controlled air through the house. If you have an existing furnace or AC unit, this is a great choice as it can use your home's existing infrastructure.
• Mini-split heat pumps: Mini-splits feature an outdoor unit that gathers heat from the air and transfers it via refrigerant lines to another unit mounted inside. They are a good choice for additions and homes where it would be hard to add ductwork. An added benefit of these ductless systems is multi-zone heating and cooling control.

Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps

When it comes to high efficiency heat pumps, ground source is the way to go. But while they're more efficient, geothermal pumps are complicated and expensive to install. These pumps require tubing to be buried underground on your property, where temperatures never drop below freezing. In heating mode, geothermal pumps concentrate heat from below ground to pump into your home. In cooling mode, they extract heat from your home and release it below ground.

Just How Efficient are Heat Pumps?

There's one very important difference between traditional HVAC systems and heat pumps — HVAC units must work to create cold or hot air, and heat pumps work with what's already there. Because it takes less energy transfer hot or cold air than to create it, this makes heat pumps better for the environment.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that as of 2015, more than half of the energy used by American households was for heating and air conditioning. The good news is that with heat pump sales on the rise (they outsold gas furnaces for the first time in 2022), home temperature control could become as much as three times more efficient. A bonus: Unlike many traditional forms of heating, heat pumps can run on entirely renewable energy.

Heat Pump Cost and Maintenance

The cost of air-source and geothermal heat pumps varies greatly. If you're interested in an air-source heat pump, it will likely run you between $3,500 and $7,500 in 2023 — which is comparable to the cost of a new HVAC system. Geothermal pumps, on the other hand, go from $13,000 up to $36,000. (We know, that's a lot of cash up front. But it could pay off with up to a 70 percent savings on utility bills.)

Once you've purchased your heat pump and had it installed, here are a few regular maintenance tasks you can complete to keep it running properly:

• Once a month, clean or change any filters
• Regularly inspect coils and fans and clean if needed
• Power off the fan and clean it occasionally
• Remove vegetation and debris around your outdoor unit
• Clean air supply and returns regularly for ducted systems

You should also have your heat pump serviced by a professional twice a year. Their service appointment may entail the following tasks:

• Checking thermostat operation
• Lubricating motors and inspecting belts
• Checking for leaks in ducts or coolant
• Confirming adequate airflow
• Inspecting electric connections and controls
• Inspecting duct system for dirt or other impediments

Choosing the Most Efficient Heat Pump for Your Home

With the promise of lower utility bills and a chance to help lower your impact on the environment, choosing to switch to a heat pump makes sense. It may be a bit harder to choose the correct one for your home, but we're here to help with that. If you're wondering, "How do I calculate what size heat pump I need?" consider the following factors.

Square Footage

You'll need one ton of air conditioning capacity for every 500 square feet of your home's area. One ton of air conditioning capacity is also equal to 12,000 BTUs.

Climate

Your local climate will affect the heat pump you choose, so you'll need to know roughly how many days you expect to heat and cool your home.

Airflow

Consider the location of windows in your home, as well as your home's general layout. If you have existing ductwork, choose a system that can make use of it.

Heat Retention

Take note of appliances in your home that can generate heat, like ovens and dryers, as well as how well your home is insulated. You'll need a heat pump that can keep up with the temperatures both inside and outside of your home.

Household Size

How many people live in your home? A whole house heat pump may be best for larger families. Ensure your heat pump is sized appropriately to keep all family members comfortable at your preferred temperature.

If you need help figuring out which heat pump will work best for your home, talk with an HVAC professional. They can help set you up with an electric heat pump that meets your needs.

Protect Your Heat Pump with a Home Warranty

Keep your heat pump heating and cooling your home all year round with a home warranty from First American. We'll set you up with a prescreened technician any time a covered item — like your heat pump —breaks down due to normal wear and tear. Get a free home warranty quote today and learn more about what a home warranty covers.

FAQs About Heat Pumps

Can a heat pump keep up with 100-degree weather?

Technology has improved enough over the past few years to cool homes even in extreme climates.

Do heat pumps work below 20 degrees?

They might become less efficient below 20 degrees, but newer heat pumps can handle temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit!