What is a heat pump and how does it heat a home?
A heat pump is an electric system that moves heat from one place to another, taking it from outdoor air or the ground in winter and delivering it indoors. Because it relocates heat rather than making it by burning fuel, it can deliver more heat than the electricity it uses.
How does a heat pump work?
The idea is the same as a refrigerator running in reverse. A refrigerant circulates in a sealed loop between an outdoor and an indoor coil. In the outdoor coil the refrigerant is colder than the air or ground around it, so it absorbs heat and turns to vapour. A compressor squeezes that vapour, which raises its temperature. In the indoor coil the hot vapour gives up its heat to the house and condenses back to liquid, then passes through an expansion valve that cools it again and the cycle repeats.
Even cold outdoor air contains heat that the refrigerant can pick up. A reversing valve lets the same system run backwards in summer, taking heat out of the house, so one unit provides both heating and cooling.
Why can a heat pump be so efficient?
A furnace converts fuel to heat, so it can never deliver more heat than the energy in the fuel. A heat pump spends electricity on moving heat, and the heat moved is a multiple of the electricity spent. That ratio is the coefficient of performance (COP). A seasonal COP of two or three means two or three units of heat for each unit of electricity, and the figure falls as the outdoor air gets colder.
Whether this saves money depends on local electricity and gas prices, the system's size and the house itself, so check current rates for your own situation. Our guide to heat pump versus furnace works through that comparison.
What types of heat pump are there?
The names describe where the heat comes from and where it goes.
- Air-source, air-to-air. Takes heat from outdoor air and blows warm air through ducts or wall units. This is the most common choice in Canada. See air-source versus ground-source.
- Air-to-water. Heats water for radiators or in-floor loops, which suits hydronic systems.
- Ground-source (geothermal). Takes heat from buried loops that stay at steady temperatures all year, as explained in how ground-source heat pumps work.
- Heat pump water heaters. Use the same cycle for hot water only. See the heat pump water heater guide.
Do heat pumps work in a Canadian winter?
Modern cold climate models are built to keep heating at temperatures well below freezing, though output and efficiency drop as it gets colder. Our cold climate heat pump guide explains the ratings to check. In the coldest regions many homes keep a backup heat source, either electric elements or a gas furnace that shares the load, as described in dual-fuel hybrid systems.
Outdoor units also frost up in damp, cold weather and defrost themselves, which is normal and covered in defrost cycles and noise. Good sizing matters more than most buyers expect, so see sizing for cold climate homes.
What does a heat pump cost and who can help pay?
Prices vary with region, system type and the work the house needs, so quotes decide, and the guide to heat pump costs in Canada explains the drivers. Rebates and incentives exist in many places and change often. Use how to check current heat pump rebates to find the right government and utility pages.
The Drake Landing homes did not use heat pumps. They took heat from a district loop charged by solar collectors and ground storage, delivered through air handlers (see how it works). The link is the idea of moving stored heat instead of burning fuel, which is also the heart of a heat pump.
Quick answers
Is a heat pump the same as an air conditioner?
It uses the same technology, but a heat pump can run in both directions. In summer it cools like an air conditioner, and in winter it reverses and heats the house.
Can a heat pump replace a furnace in Canada?
In many homes, yes, particularly with a cold climate model and a well-sized system. In very cold regions a backup heat source is common.
Does a heat pump use a lot of electricity?
It uses electricity but typically much less than electric baseboards for the same heat. Your total depends on the house, the climate and local rates.
How long does a heat pump last?
Air-source units commonly last roughly fifteen years or more with regular service, and the manufacturer or installer can give a figure for a specific model.