What is a heat pump? Is it better than an air conditioner?

Actually, a heat pump is an air conditioner with the capability of reversing in the winter to save energy. Perhaps you have noticed that during the summer, the outdoor section of your air conditioner blows hot air. That is heat that is being removed from inside your home. A heat pump actually removes heat from the outdoor air in the winter and moves it inside. When outdoor temperatures approach the freezing mark, and there is not enough heat to provide adequate capacity, the heat pump automatically engages supplemental heaters as a booster until the heat pump can catch up. If overall energy efficiency savings is your concern, a heat pump can really cut your winter time heating costs. In the summer you should never know the difference.