Both systems are designed to transfer the heat from inside your home to the outside when in cooling mode.
Difference between heat pump and regular ac unit.
And for the most part they use the exact same parts and components during installation and operation.
Geothermal heat pumps can be especially energy efficient.
A heat pump can heat and cool but an air conditioner cannot which is the primary difference between the two hvac systems.
In many ways heat pumps are functionally the same as conventional air conditioners.
Though heat pumps can be a good alternative to an ac unit they can t do the work of a furnace when it comes to heating your home.
Using a heat pump vs ac is a more environmentally friendly way of heating and cooling your house.
They both use a complex combination of electricity and refrigerant to condition your home.
The heat pump and the air conditioner may rely on the same basic refrigeration principle but if all of the cooling details are identical there is still one key difference.
So basically it s an air conditioner that can reverse itself.
For the unschooled a heat pump and an air conditioner might seem like the same thing.
Think of air conditioners as heat pumps that can only pump heat in one direction from the inside to the outside.
The performance of the heat pump and air conditioner will only be identical if all of the efficiency aspects are identical as well.
Heat pumps are not suitable for every climate.
The only real difference is that a heat pump can reverse itself so it can provide heating when needed.
There are also certain drawbacks that come from choosing vs air conditioners.
Together an air conditioner and furnace are a complete heating and cooling system.
However a heat pump is fitted with a reversing valve that allows it to transfer the heat from outside into your home when in heating.