Buhata
Login Start for Free

Home › Life Terms

Home maintenance and repairs

Heat pump

An electric system that heats and cools a home by moving heat: from the outdoor air into the house in winter, and out of the house in summer.

What It Means

A heat pump is an electric heating and cooling system that moves heat from one place to another instead of producing it. In cold weather it pulls heat from the outdoor air and carries it into the house, and in warm weather it runs the other way and carries heat out, working much like a refrigerator. The U.S. Department of Energy says a modern heat pump can cut the electricity used for heating by about half compared with electric resistance heat, such as electric furnaces and baseboard heaters.

Try It: See Which Way a Heat Pump Moves Heat

Pick a season to see which way the heat goes, then tick the upkeep you've done this year.

Heat comes from

The outdoor air

Heat goes to

Inside your home

Same machine both ways. It moves heat, much like a refrigerator does, per DOE and ENERGY STAR.

Upkeep done: 0 of 3

The guidance: filters monthly or as needed, and a technician at least once a year.

How It Sounds at Home

  • "We swapped the baseboard heat for a heat pump."
  • "Is that the heat pump or the AC unit outside?"
  • "The heat pump filter's due again."

The Breakdown

How to keep a heat pump running well

  1. Find the filter. The manufacturer's manual is the place to check where it sits and what type it is.
  2. Check it every month. Clean or change it when it's dirty, or on the schedule the manual gives.
  3. Book a professional service at least once a year.
  4. Follow the rest of the manufacturer's care instructions, since models differ.
  5. Write down the date each time you do one of these, so the next one is easy to time.

Try it today. Open the filter panel and look. If the filter is gray with dust, clean or replace it, and note the date.

Heat pump and electric resistance heat, side by side

Heat pumpElectric resistance heat (electric furnace, baseboard)
How it heatsMoves heat in from outdoorsTurns electricity into heat
CoolingYes, by running in reverseNo
Electricity for heatingAbout 50% less, per DOEThe comparison point
Heat deliveredUp to 3 times the electrical energy it uses, per DOE

Good to Know

DOE's 50% figure compares a heat pump with electric resistance heating. If your home heats with gas or oil, that number doesn't carry over directly, so ask the installer or your utility to compare running costs for your house. ENERGY STAR has separate product pages for air-source heat pumps and for ductless heating and cooling. DOE and ENERGY STAR both advise cleaning or changing filters monthly or as needed and having a professional technician service the system at least once a year.

FAQ

How does a heat pump heat a house in winter?

It uses electricity to move heat from the cooler outdoor air into the warmer house, the way a refrigerator moves heat out of its box. Because it moves heat instead of making it, DOE says it can deliver up to three times more heat energy than the electricity it uses.

Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a furnace?

DOE says a modern heat pump can cut electricity use for heating by about 50% compared with electric resistance heat, such as an electric furnace or baseboard heaters. Against a gas or oil furnace, the answer depends on your local fuel and electricity prices, so ask for a comparison for your home.

How often should a heat pump be serviced?

Have a professional service it at least once a year, according to DOE and ENERGY STAR. Between visits, check the filter monthly and clean or change it as needed.

Do It in Buhata

Maintenance (Household X), Reminders

Add "Check heat pump filter" to Maintenance in Buhata to repeat every month, with a yearly job for the professional service visit.

Open Buhata

Related Terms and Categories

  • HVAC filter

    The removable filter in a furnace, central air conditioner or heat pump that traps dust from the air; ENERGY STAR says check it monthly and change it at least every 3 months.

  • HVAC tune-up

    A service visit where a qualified contractor checks, cleans and adjusts a heating or cooling system; ENERGY STAR advises one for cooling each spring and heating each fall.

  • Furnace maintenance

    The routine care a furnace needs: a monthly filter check, a yearly professional cleaning and inspection before heating season, and a working carbon monoxide alarm.

  • Seasonal home maintenance

    Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.

Home maintenance and repairs

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy, "Pump Up Your Savings with Heat Pumps"; U.S. Department of Energy, "Heat Pumps Keep Homes Warm and Bills Low this Winter"; U.S. Department of Energy, "Home Heating Systems"; ENERGY STAR, "How Does a Heat Pump Work?"; ENERGY STAR, "Air-Source Heat Pumps"; ENERGY STAR, "Ductless Heating and Cooling"

Last updated .