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