Heat pumps do not create heat directly. They extract heat from an outside source using the refrigeration cycle, and deliver it to the inside of your home. The two sources of heat for heat pumps are the ambient air (air source) and the ground (ground source). 

The most common Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), be they fully ducted or ductless, are “split” systems, in that they are split into two separate components; an outside coil and an inside coil. The outside coil is responsible for harvesting heat from the outdoors during the heating cycle and dumping heat to the outdoors during the cooling cycle. The inside coil is responsible for dumping heat into the house during the heating cycle, and gathering heat from the house during the cooling cycle.

Like all mechanical equipment, there is a wide range of sizes (heating/cooling capacity) and various qualities (efficiencies) of ASHP’s. Given the advances in ASHP technology, particularly around variable speed compressors, and the fact that the outside air temperature in Atlantic Canada is rarely below -20°C, these systems can be a very energy efficient choice for your new home.