Benefits of Heat Pumps

Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling capabilities in one system, using refrigeration equipment to supply warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer.

Electric heat pumps do not burn fuel to make heat. Instead they move existing heat from one place to another. In the winter, the unit takes heat from outside and pumps it into your home. In the summer, it takes heat from inside and pumps it outside, just like a central air-conditioning unit. Heat pumps have a higher overall efficiency rating than other systems, because they move heat rather than generate it.

We encourage our residential customers, HVAC contractors and builders to purchase and install one of three types of heat pumps.

Air-Source/Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps

These often use the air for the source of heat. The efficiency of an air-source heat pump falls during extremely cold weather and backup heating is usually needed. Air-source heat pumps often use electric strip heating for backup. Dual-fuel heat pumps use a gas or propane furnace as backup heating.

Ground-Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps

These pumps typically use water circulated through looped pipe buried in the ground to heat and cool. In the winter the liquid transfers the earth's heat into the home and in the summer the heat is removed from the home and transferred to the earth.

Replacing your current heating and cooling system with a heat pump will most likely cost more upfront, but you will save every month on your electric bill.

Still need another good reason to install a heat pump? If you install an approved heat pump you could be eligible for a rebate.