Geothermal heat pumps can be especially energy efficient.
Difference between heat pump and regular ac unit.
The only real difference is that a heat pump can reverse itself so it can provide heating when needed.
For the unschooled a heat pump and an air conditioner might seem like the same thing.
An air conditioner is typically paired with a furnace to provide heat during the cold months.
Think of air conditioners as heat pumps that can only pump heat in one direction from the inside to the outside.
In many ways heat pumps are functionally the same as conventional air conditioners.
The heat pump and the air conditioner may rely on the same basic refrigeration principle but if all of the cooling details are identical there is still one key difference.
Both systems are designed to transfer the heat from inside your home to the outside when in cooling mode.
So basically it s an air conditioner that can reverse itself.
Although the difference between heat pump and a c systems is significant they work in a similar fashion.
A heat pump can heat and cool but an air conditioner cannot which is the primary difference between the two hvac systems.
Together an air conditioner and furnace are a complete heating and cooling system.
And for the most part they use the exact same parts and components during installation and operation.
Heat pumps are not suitable for every climate.
The difference is in the valve.
However a heat pump is fitted with a reversing valve that allows it to transfer the heat from outside into your home when in heating.
There are also certain drawbacks that come from choosing vs air conditioners.
The performance of the heat pump and air conditioner will only be identical if all of the efficiency aspects are identical as well.