Heat Pumps

Heat pumps have been used in nearly all parts of the U.S. as a way to heat and cool homes. They are not as common in areas that experience extended periods of sub-freezing weather, such as the Midwest; however, technology is advancing, and some heat pumps may offer an alternative way to heat your home. 

It is important to make sure your home is well insulated and airtight prior to installing a heat pump to maximize the energy savings. Heat pumps are a good alternative for homes that are heated with an electric furnace or baseboard, propane, wood or fuel oil.

What is a heat pump?

Heat normally flows from hot to cold just as water flows downhill from high to low. Heat pumps move heat "uphill" against this normal flow.

A refrigerator is a heat pump. It moves heat from inside the fridge to the surrounding room so food stays cold.
Air conditioners also are heat pumps, moving heat from indoors to outdoors.

Illustration of how a heat pump works in summer and winter.

The heat pump’s refrigeration system consists of a compressor and two coils made of copper tubing surrounded by aluminum to aid heat transfer. To heat, liquid refrigerant in the outside coils extracts heat from the air and evaporates into gas. The indoor coils release heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid. A reversing valve near the compressor changes the direction of the refrigerant flow. Heat pumps are more energy efficient as they concentrate and transfer heat rather than generate it.

Air-source heat pumps

An air-source heat pump is able to heat or cool a home by moving heat to and from the air through ductwork connected to a single indoor unit that distributes the heated or cooled air throughout the house. There also are ductless versions available consisting of an outdoor compressor that connects to an indoor unit.

Geothermal or ground-source heat pumps 

A geothermal or ground-source heat pump heats or cools your home by moving heat to and from the ground through a series of buried loops. A "desuperheater" can be added to a geothermal heat pump to provide water heating.

Dual-fuel heating

Keep in mind that the cooler the outside air temperature, the less heat there is available, and heat pump efficiency can decrease. A backup heating source often is a good idea in a colder climate. Dual-fuel systems allow for the flexibility of heating with a heat pump or with a more traditional gas or LP furnace. This can give customers the opportunity to use each system optimally based on costs and environmental benefits.

Benefits

A key benefit is that heat pumps can be used for both heating and cooling purposes, reducing the need for two different types of equipment. They typically have a lifespan of around 15 years, require low maintenance and are powered by electricity, reducing their environmental impact and using less electricity than conventional electric-resistance heating sources.

Consider a heat pump if you are:

Thinking about adding or replacing your central air-conditioning.
Planning what to do when your heating system needs replacing.
Renovating or adding on to an existing house where it may be difficult to add ductwork.
Building a new house.

Before you buy

For ground-source heat pumps, contact the Wisconsin Geothermal Association for a list of experienced professionals.
For air-source heat pumps, contact a heating and cooling professional.
Make sure your home is well insulated and air sealed with good ventilation regardless of the type of heating system you choose. If your new home doesn't require much heat, the type of heating system you choose becomes less important.

Current incentives

It may be a good time to purchase a heat pump for your home as rebates and incentives are available to help with upgrade costs:

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, a tax credit is available for buying and installing a heat pump at whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy.
FOCUS ON ENERGY^® is offering rebates for purchasing and installing various heat pumps at focusonenergy.com.