Heat Pump is a term used for a type of air conditioner in which the refrigeration cycle can be reversed producing heat instead of cooling. They are sometimes referred to as reversed cycle air conditioners. This technology is far more economical to operate than resistive electric heating.
Until recently, the effectiveness of these systems in the Northeast has been somewhat marginal at temperatures below 30 degrees. Advances in equipment and technology over the last several years now enable the new generation of equipment to extract heat for the outside air at temperature below 0° F.
Types of Heat Pumps
In heating mode, a heat pump will collect heat from the outdoor unit (condenser), and discharge it inside through the air handler.
In cooling mode, the valve is reversed, and everything moves in the opposite direction, so heat is removed from the inside air handler and discharged outside, creating air conditioning.
A geothermal heat pump or ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a central heating and/or cooling system that pumps heat to or from the ground. It uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer).