Heat Pump

An HVAC unit that provides both heating and cooling by moving heat instead of generating it. In cooling mode, it works like an air conditioner. Heat is extracted from indoors and released outside. Heating mode reverses the refrigerant cycle to extract heat from outdoor air (even cold air) and bring it indoors. Heat pumps are valued for efficiency because they use electricity to transfer heat rather than generate it. In cold climates, some systems combine a heat pump with a furnace, called a dual-fuel or hybrid system, to optimize efficiency.