Guides / Heating and cooling
Heat pumps, explained
How they work, where they make sense, and questions to ask before you buy.
A heat pump moves heat instead of making it: out of the house in summer, into it in winter. Because moving heat takes less energy than creating it, modern heat pumps can be very efficient, including many cold-climate models.
Often a good fit when
- You heat with electric baseboard, propane or oil
- Your AC needs replacing anyway
- You're adding heating and cooling to a room without ducts (a ductless mini-split)
Questions to ask installers
- Will you do a load calculation (Manual J) rather than size it by rule of thumb?
- How does this model perform at our coldest winter temperatures?
- What backup heat will it use, and when?
- Do our ducts and electrical panel need work?
- Which local rebates apply, and will you help with the paperwork?
Running costs
Whether a heat pump lowers your bills depends on your electricity and fuel prices, your climate and the system it replaces. Ask for an estimate of yearly running costs compared with your current system.
General energy-saving information. Savings vary by home, climate, equipment and rates. Efficient Home Help isn't paid by any utility, brand or contractor.