A heat pump is an HVAC system that uses electricity to heat and cool your home. In the summer, heat pumps act as air conditioners by transporting heat from inside your home, outside. In the winter, heat pumps take heat from outside and deposit it into your home. That means, heat pumps can heat your home when it’s cold outside, and cool your home as temperatures rise.

If you’re facing an issue with your current heat pump, our Repair or Replace tool can help you determine the best next step for your home. If your heat pump is less than 10 years old and repairs are minor, you should generally opt for repair.

Generally speaking, replacement makes sense if your heat pump is over 10 years old, has a SEER2 or HSPF2 rating less than the Department of Energy minimum requirements, requires frequent repairs, or is the cause of increased energy costs.

SEER2, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures how efficiently your heat pump cools your home — the higher the SEER2, the more efficient your heat pump is at cooling. 

Since the Department of Energy revised minimum SEER2 ratings for heat pumps, effective Jan. 1, 2023, there’s no magic number for a good SEER2 rating. Split system heat pumps must have a SEER2 of 14.3 or higher in all regions, and single-packaged air conditioners and heat pumps in all regions must have a SEER2 of 13.4 or higher. Talk to your local Trane dealer to help determine the best one for your home.

HSPF2, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, measures how efficiently your heat pump heats your home — the higher the HSPF2, the more efficient your heat pump is at heating. Effective Jan.1, 2023, the Department of Energy required all split-system heat pumps to have an HSPF2 rating of 7.5 or higher, and all single-packaged heat pumps to have an HSPF2 of 6.7 or higher. 

However, these are just minimum ratings and the right HSPF2 rating for your heat pump depends on factors such as geographic location, home size, and more.

The biggest difference between an air source heat pump and a ductless (also known as mini-split) heat pump is the amount of space in which the system can control the temperature. A traditional heat pump is part of a central heating and cooling system, which means it utilizes ductwork to distribute newly warmed or cooled air throughout your entire home.

On the other hand, a mini-split heat pump does not use ductwork; instead, it heats and cools just the room or space where it was directly installed. If you do not have ductwork and need to heat or cool several rooms, an additional ductless option is the multi-zone ductless system. You control the temperature in each room separately from the rest.

When it comes to a heat pump vs. furnace, there are two big differences to keep in mind. First, a heat pump can both heat and cool your home, while a furnace only heats your home. Second, these two HVAC systems generate heat in different ways. While a furnace uses a fuel source like gas or oil to create heat, a heat pump uses electricity.

Your installed cost for a heat pump will vary depending on several factors, including heating and cooling capacity, SEER 2 and HSPF2 ratings, whether you’re replacing an existing heat pump, whether you’re replacing an AC/Furnace combo and other factors. For further information, check out our pricing guide.

An electric air source heat pump will last an average of 15 years. Some heat pumps can last longer if you ensure proper maintenance and they are quality units to begin with. Some heat pumps may not last as long if they are not properly maintained. Since you use a heat pump year-round for heating and cooling, maintenance is key. Get some maintenance tips to prolong the life of your heat pump.

As part of ongoing improvement, the HVAC industry is in the process of transitioning to using a new refrigerant in newly manufactured units, including air conditioners and heat pumps. It’s called R-454B and is more sustainable than the most recent refrigerant, R-410A.

For new units listed on our website, you will see an icon indicating which units are using the new refrigerant. You can also find the type of refrigerant listed in the model specifications.

For existing AC and heat pump installations at your home, your owner’s manual will say what type of refrigerant it uses. If the unit was manufactured in 2010 or later, the refrigerant will be R-410A. If it was manufactured before 2010, the refrigerant would be R-22, which is no longer in production. You may want to consider system replacement due to the age of the unit.

You can also contact your local Trane local dealer to learn more about refrigerants and product availability.