In this section:

• How a Heat Pump Works
• How to Buy a Heat Pump
• Heat Pump Troubleshooting & Repair
• Heat Pump Maintenance & Filter Replacement

Heat pumps: An expert guide to their workings and how to buy, repair, and maintain them.

By Don Vandervort, HomeTips

For homes in climates where cooling and heating requirements are moderate, heat pumps can be a strong energy-saving alternative to conventional forced-air furnaces and air conditioners. Using refrigeration technology instead of fuel combustion to provide warmth and cooling, conventional heat pumps move heat from cold to warm spaces—and vice versa—to cool a warm house in the summer and heat a cool house in the winter. By transferring heat instead of producing it, they can do their cooling or heating far more efficiently than conventional furnaces and air conditioners.

How a Heat Pump Works

An air-source heat pump, the most common type, does this work by transferring heat between a house and the outdoors. Refrigerant travels in tubing that runs between an outdoor compressor-condenser unit and indoor coils mounted on an air handler (like a furnace). Air-source systems require ductwork like that used in a typical forced-air system. If your home lacks this type of ductwork, it can still be heated and cooled by mini-split heat pumps. For more, see How An Air-Source Heat Pump Works.

An entirely different type of heat pump is the geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pump. This transfers heat between the ground or a nearby water source to your house. Though this type can be costly to install, it operates very efficiently even in areas with climate extremes. For more about this type of heat pump, see Groundwater and Ground-Source Heat Pumps.

How to Buy a Heat Pump

Before investing in a new heat pump, it’s important to make sure that it will be right for your home. This will depend upon your climate, energy sources prevalent in your area, and the energy efficiency of your home. In moderate climates where electricity is used for heating, energy bills can be trimmed by as much as 30% to 40%. This efficiency drops off significantly at low temperatures because not enough heat can be extracted from the ambient air to provide significant warmth. In this situation, auxiliary heat from non-efficient heating elements in the system is usually necessary. For more information on buying a heat pump, see How to Buy a Heat Pump — A Buying Guide.

Heat Pump Troubleshooting & Repair

Heat pumps are sophisticated appliances that can run smoothly for a long time. But every once in a while, like any other appliance, they can break down. The can freeze up, fail to produce heat or cold, trip circuit breakers, and more. For complete techniques on how to repair various types of heat pump problems, see Heat Pump Troubleshooting & Repair.

Heat Pump Maintenance & Filter Replacement

Though heat pumps operate with very little maintenance, there are a few steps you should take periodically to ensure the best efficiency. Among these are making sure the filters are not blocking air flow and keeping the various components clean. For a look at important heat pump maintenance, please see Heat Pump & Furnace Maintenance & Filter Replacement.