| A heat pump is an electric cooling and heating | | | | For instance, air source heat pumps are a good |
| system used to compress and decompress gas | | | | option for mild and moderate climate regions, and |
| to heat or cool a house. This mechanical device | | | | ground source or geothermal heat pumps are |
| pumps heat from a cooler to a warmer location | | | | efficient in climates with similar heating and cooling |
| and can extract heat from air, water or the | | | | loads. The most common types of heat pumps |
| earth. Heat pumps functions like an air conditioner | | | | are the air-source and ground-source heat pumps. |
| in the summer and an electric furnace in the | | | | Although ground source heat pumps are more |
| winter, thus encompassing both a heating and | | | | expensive to install, they are more efficient and |
| cooling unit in one device. The COP, or coefficient | | | | less noisy. |
| of performance, which calculates the ratio of heat | | | | However, to make heat pumps work efficiently, |
| output to electric power consumption, measures | | | | they should be installed properly, and one should |
| the performance of a heat pump. | | | | choose the right sized pump that can fulfill the |
| Heat pumps are the most resourceful form of | | | | heating and cooling demands of the house. While |
| electric heating in moderate climates, and cool a | | | | selecting a heat pump one should buy a device |
| house by collecting the heat inside the house and | | | | with a higher Heating Seasonal Performance |
| effectively pumping it outside. There are three | | | | Factor, or HSPF. The pumps should also be fitted |
| types of heat pumps that one can install: air-to-air, | | | | with demand-defrost control, which minimizes the |
| water source and ground source. Heat pumps can | | | | defrost cycles and reduces supplementary and |
| collect heat from air, water or ground and can | | | | heat pump energy use. |
| utilize the same to heat or cool your home. When | | | | Heat pumps are much more cost-effective then |
| installing a heat pump at home, one should | | | | other conventional heating devices, and are also |
| consider using an energy-efficient heat pump | | | | becoming more commonly used to heat |
| system, keeping in mind the climate of the region. | | | | swimming pools, and hot water for household use. |