What Are The Key Differences Of An Air Conditioner VS A Heat Pump

For someone who doesn’t know much about HVAC equipment, it may be tough to tell the difference between an air conditioner and a heat pump. They look very similar, and both do the job of keeping the space cool and comfortable. The systems both work similarly when it comes to cooling. They extract heat from the air in the house, and push it outside. They also use a refrigerant and a compressor to create cool air and pump it into the home. 

Heat Pumps Provide Heating And Cooling

The biggest difference between the two systems is in the winter. For an air conditioning system, there’s nothing it can do to provide heating, and is idle during the winter months. You’ll need a furnace, boiler, or baseboard heating in order to keep the space warm. 

For a heat pump, the process is reversed during the winter, and the system is able to provide heating for your home. The heat pump draws heat from the air outside and pumps it into the home, while using the compressor and heat transfer process to create whatever heat is needed. This means you only need one system to keep your space comfortable all year long. 

With a heat pump, there is no need to install a separate heating system, which gives homeowners more space, and more convenience. It’s much easier to maintain one system, and it’s also simpler. 

Types Of Cooling Systems

There are a few different types of cooling systems: 

• Traditional AC systems – Cooling only, use ductwork,
• Heat Pumps – Cooling and heating, use ductwork
• Ductless Mini Splits – Cooling and heating, no ductwork needed

Ductless mini splits are a different kind of heat pump. These work by using a compressor outside that hooks up to different head units or splits independently. Each one of these operates independently, meaning you can have different units set at different temperatures. This allows you to save energy, and provide more customized comfort in different spaces around the home. 

These systems don’t need ductwork, and are perfect as a supplement to a current system that may need a little help. They are also great for additions to a home like a garage, sunroom, or an attic. Any space that wasn’t thought of when the original HVAC system was installed. These are also great for older, or historical homes with no room for ductwork. 

Pros and Cons Of Heat Pumps VS AC Systems

There aren’t tons of differences between the two systems, and each of them have their own benefits and drawbacks. Here are a couple pros and cons that could help steer you in the right directions when it comes to your home comfort: 

Pros Of An Air Conditioner: 

• Lower initial investment cost compared to a heat pump
• Can provide energy efficient cooling 
• Can treat the whole home

Cons Of An Air Conditioner: 

• Can only provide cooling 
• Treats the whole home (even spaces you aren’t using)
• Need ductwork 

Pros Of A Heat Pump/Ductless Mini Splits: 

• Can provide both heating and cooling
• Energy efficient comfort 
• Can provide zoned comfort (lower energy bills and better comfort) 
• Can use ducts or no ducts

Cons Of A Heat Pump/Ductless Mini Splits:

• Higher initial cost of installation 

Read More: A Heat Pump VS A Furnace

What Should You Install In Your Home? 

In our area of the country, we recommend you install a heat pump in your home. Air conditioners are great, and if you recently installed a new furnace, maybe an air conditioner is the better option for cost purposes. In most cases though, heat pumps are the way to go. 

In our corner of Virginia and Tennessee, we see hot summers and cold winters. That means needing year round heating and cooling. This is why we normally recommend a heat pump as opposed to other HVAC systems. 

If you want to talk to an expert about a heat pump or air conditioning system for your home, give us a call at (276) 690-9222, or contact us online!