Did you know that while air conditioners and heat pumps are essentially the same in cooling mode, they are entirely different when it comes to heating? Air conditioners only provide cooling, but heat pumps can heat and cool your home! How do they do this, you ask? Well, heat pumps have a reversing valve in the outdoor unit that extracts heat energy from the outside air, even in very cold temperatures, and transfers it inside your home, releasing the heat into the air.

The primary difference between air conditioners and heat pumps is that air conditioners require a furnace to provide heat during the cold months. But with a heat pump, you have a complete heating and cooling system in one!

Heat pumps can serve as the primary source of heat for the majority of the heating season. The hardest work your heating system will have to do only happens less than 5% to 10% of the time during a typical heating season. However, if the outdoor temperature drops below the heat pump’s operational rating, you may need an alternative heating source like auxiliary electric heat or a gas furnace. This hybrid approach to home heating helps achieve sustainable heating for the majority of the heating season.

So, if you’re looking for efficient cooling in the summer and a hybrid heating system in the winter, a heat pump may be the way to go!