What Is a Heat Pump?

happy couple cutting oranges on a wooden cutting board during the bright, sunny day.

Ready to reduce your energy bills? Install a heat pump in your Clinton Township home!


A heat pump is a dual-purpose system designed to provide heating and cooling to your home. You’ll no longer have to depend on pairing a furnace or boiler with an air conditioner (AC) to remain comfortable. With a heat pump, you can enjoy the warm and cool air as needed, all from one system capable of offering both.

Our Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning professionals are here to go over the most efficient heating and cooling methods. With temperatures ranging from high to low depending on the season here in Michigan, a heat pump certainly makes an excellent option to enhance your comfort.

Let us answer your questions on heat pumps and provide the installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance services you need to experience a desirable indoor atmosphere. 

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

Heat pumps transfer energy instead of generating it. Because heat pumps run on electricity, they are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than conventional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning HVAC systems.

Types of Heat Pumps

There are three different types of heat pumps, but each operates by transferring heat from one source to another. During the colder months, heat pumps transfer heat from the outdoors and relocate it to the inside of your Clinton Township home. The process reverses itself in the summer: heat pumps work like an air conditioner, removing warm air from your home and pushing it outdoors.

The different types of heat pumps are:

  • Air-source heat pumps—As the most common type of heat pump for homeowners, air-source heat pumps are easy to install and proven reliable in practically all weather conditions.
  • Water-source heat pumps—These systems extract heat from a body of water. This could be an excellent option if you live near a body of water, such as a lake, pond, or well. Water-source heat pumps offer greater reliability as the underwater temperature is more consistent—while air-source heat pumps depend on outdoor temperatures that often vary.
  • Geothermal heat pumps—These systems are incredibly efficient, harnessing energy from below the surface where the temperature remains constant. Also known as a ground-source heat pump, this heat pump can provide significant savings on your heating and cooling expenses.

Enjoy an environmentally-friendly option that taps into a renewable source of energy. Plus, you could be eligible for federal tax credits to offset installation costs.

Additional Options

Interested in a heat pump but concerned about our cold Michigan winters? Consider these options:

  • Dual-fuel systems—Although extremely energy efficient, heat pumps aren’t always ideal as a primary heating source, particularly in Michigan, where outdoor temperatures can drop very low during the winter. A dual-fuel system could be a better option.

    Dual-fuel systems use both an electric heat pump and a gas furnace. You’ll enjoy the benefits of a high-efficiency heat pump as well as additional heating support from your furnace when needed. Your heat pump will be responsible for cooling your home during summer and heating it during milder seasons like spring and fall when needed. When the temperature plunges below freezing, you can fire up the furnace and provide a greater level of heating for your home.
  • Ductless mini splits—Another option is a ductless mini split heat pump. Unlike conventional HVAC systems, mini splits do not rely on air ducts for distributing warm and cool air throughout your home. These systems can supplement your HVAC system to add more comfort to parts of your home where the ductwork does not extend.

Benefits of Heat Pumps

Replacing your current HVAC system with a heat pump could even help you reduce your electricity use for heating by 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). But this is just one of the many great benefits heat pumps provide!

By installing a heat pump in your home, you’ll get to enjoy:

  • Heating and cooling from one system
  • Optimal energy efficiency
  • Minimal noise
  • Lower operating costs
  • Less carbon footprint
  • Savings on monthly heating and cooling bills

Schedule Your Heat Pump Installation Today

Ready for an energy-efficient heat pump in your Clinton Township, MI, home? Our Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning professionals offer expert heat pump installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance services. Call us to schedule your service at 586-790-2604 or request service online.

Need HVAC Service?

Contact the experts at Great Dane Heating, Cooling, Electrical, & Plumbing.

Call us at 586.790.2604!

Read More of Our Articles

View other articles.