Definition
A system that moves heat rather than burning fuel — cooling in summer and heating in winter. Cold-climate models now work efficiently well below freezing.
Why this matters for your home
A heat pump moves heat instead of creating it, using refrigerant to pull warmth from outdoor air and release it indoors — then reversing in summer to act as an air conditioner. Because it transfers energy rather than burning fuel, it can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity.
Older heat pumps struggled in the cold, but modern cold-climate models keep heating efficiently well below zero, making them viable across the Twin Cities — often paired with a furnace as a dual-fuel system. They also frequently qualify for state and utility rebates, which we factor into the numbers we give you.