Heat pumps: How they work and when they’re right for you

Winter is coming, so let’s talk about how to make our homes more energy efficient. If you’re in the market for a new home heating system, you might have heard of heat pumps. But how do they work? 

While the conversation around heat pumps has been… heating up lately, they’ve actually been around for decades! Refrigerators and air conditioners use the same principles and technology.

A heat pump is an attractive option for Canadian homeowners because it’s one device that can be used to both heat and cool your home, depending on your needs.

Cooling Cycle

When a heat pump extracts energy from a source, the temperature of that source goes down. In cooling mode, a heat pump uses your home as the source and transfers that energy outside.

Heating Cycle 

When outdoor temperatures start to drop, your heat pump switches over to heating mode, and your home becomes the destination for the energy transfer, or the “sink.” The heat pump then uses the outdoor ground or air as its energy source.

Even in chilly winter weather, the outdoor air holds a lot of energy! Heat pumps can provide heating to homes below 0 degrees Celsius. 

So why choose a heat pump? As an alternative to systems like furnaces, boilers and electric baseboards, a heat pump is highly efficient and can reduce emissions, which helps all Canadians in our fight against #ClimateChange.

To learn more about heat pumps, visit our website.

To find out if a heat pump is right for your home, an EnerGuide assessment through the #CanadaGreenerHomes Initiative can help! Check your eligibility.