A heat pump works by transferring heat from one place to another using a refrigerant cycle. In heating mode, the heat pump extracts heat from the outside air or ground and moves it indoors. In cooling mode, it removes heat from indoors and releases it outside.

The process involves compressing and expanding refrigerant to absorb and release heat. Heat pumps are energy-efficient as they move heat rather than generate it, making them more environmentally friendly than traditional heating systems.

The key components of a heat pump system include an outdoor unit with a coil and fan, and an indoor unit with a coil and fan.

The outdoor unit acts as a condenser in cooling mode and an evaporator in heating mode, while the indoor unit functions as an air handler.

Heat pumps come in different types such as air-source and ground-source, with air-source being more common for residential use.Heat pumps are designed to be efficient, extracting more heat energy from the environment than the electricity they consume.

They can produce two to three times more heat output than the electricity input, especially when powered by renewable energy sources like solar or wind power.