Types of Heat Pumps & Popular Brands

Are you aware that there are two kinds of heat pump technologies? The primary types are air-to-air and ground-source (or geothermal) heat pumps. These systems gather heat from either the air or the ground and intensify it for indoor use using equipment and refrigeration. Additionally, each of these types includes various subtypes and categories!

Air Source Heat Pumps

The air-source heat pump is the most common type, transferring heat between your home and the outside air. Modern heat pumps can reduce electricity usage for heating by up to 75% compared to electric resistance heating systems like furnaces and baseboard heaters. High-efficiency heat pumps also provide better dehumidification than standard central air conditioners, which results in lower energy consumption and improved cooling comfort during summer. Common types include ductless or mini-split, ducted, and even water-to-air systems. Popular brands are Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung, Rheem, Bosch IDS, Bryant, among others. Most manufacturers produce equipment for both ductless and ducted systems.

Ground Source Heat Pumps or Geothermal

Geothermal Heat Pumps, known as GHPs, achieve greater efficiency by exchanging heat between your home and the ground. While the installation cost of a geothermal system can be several times higher than that of an air-source system with equivalent heating and cooling capacity, these additional expenses might be recouped through energy savings within 5 to 10 years, depending on energy costs and available incentives in your region. Federal tax credits for GSHP remain at 30% and can be fully claimed until December 2033. The system's lifespan is estimated to be up to 24 years for the indoor components and over 50 years for the ground well components, depending on the loop style. Interested in how geothermal works? See how Water Furnace explains it! We exclusively install Water Furnace for all our geothermal projects.

Cold Climate Heat Pumps

Cold climate heat pumps, a rapidly gaining popularity subtype of heat pumps, are engineered to operate efficiently in temperatures as low as 5°F.

Living here in New Hampshire and surrounding areas you know that temperatures regularly dip below freezing in winter months, consider looking for a system with an ENERGY STAR Cold Climate label and feel comfortable all winter long.

Dual Fuel Heat Pump System

A dual-fuel heat pump system combines a heat pump and a gas furnace (forced warm air).

This very popular combination is a smart investment for our homeowners, offering benefits like energy efficiency, cost savings and reliability. They are particularly well-suited for homes in areas with fluctuating temperatures, where the heat pump can handle milder weather, and the furnace can kick in during extreme cold. Sound familiar?

In Closing

Homeowners today have access to a wide range of heat pumps. These offer numerous advantages, such as high efficiency, minimal environmental impact, cutting-edge technology, tax credits, and even local rebates.

Although numerous manufacturers provide heat pump technology, we opt to specialize in a carefully chosen selection. This approach ultimately benefits our customers. By collaborating closely with a manufacturer, we receive support similar to the support we offer you, our customer, during the installation process.