Heat Pump Buying Guide

A heat pump is the one piece of HVAC equipment that both heats and cools your home, and for most of the US it is now the most efficient way to do either with electricity. This guide walks through each buying decision and points you to the right collection and the deeper article for each.

The quick answer: For most US homes, the right choice is an air-source, air-to-air heat pump sized from a Manual J load calculation, rated at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 (the federal minimum for split systems), paired with an air handler if the home is all-electric or with a gas furnace as a dual-fuel system if gas is already there. Choose an inverter (variable-speed) model where winters regularly drop below about 20°F. Match the outdoor unit, indoor coil and refrigerant exactly, and order the line set, pad, disconnect and thermostat with the system.

What a heat pump does

A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run backwards. In summer it pulls heat from indoor air and rejects it outside; in winter a reversing valve flips the refrigerant flow so the outdoor coil absorbs heat from outside air (there is useful heat in air well below freezing) and the indoor coil releases it into your ductwork or room.

Because it moves heat instead of making it, a heat pump delivers roughly two to four units of heat per unit of electricity, depending on outdoor temperature; resistance heat delivers exactly one. That ratio (the COP) is why a heat pump costs far less to run than strip heat and competes with gas in much of the country.

Shop Heat Pump Condensers or read How does a heat pump work?

Air-to-air vs air-to-water

Nearly every residential heat pump sold in the US is an air-source unit that takes heat from outdoor air. Air-to-air heat pumps deliver that heat as warm air through ducts (central split systems) or directly into a room (ductless mini splits). Air-to-water heat pumps heat a water loop feeding radiators, radiant floors or a fan coil; they are common in Europe and in US homes with existing hydronic systems, and high-temperature models exist for older radiator homes.

HVAC MORE sells air-to-air equipment only: central heat pump condensers, matched systems, and ductless and ducted mini splits.

Shop Mini Splits or read Air-source heat pumps explained.

Heat pump + air handler vs dual fuel

A ducted heat pump needs an indoor unit to move air across the coil. You have two choices:

• Heat pump + air handler. The air handler holds the blower and indoor coil, usually with an electric heat strip kit (typically 5 to 20 kW) for backup. This is the all-electric setup and the right one where there is no gas service.
• Dual fuel (heat pump + gas furnace). The heat pump handles cooling and mild-to-cool heating; below a balance point set at the thermostat (commonly 25°F to 40°F) the furnace takes over. Often the most comfortable and cheapest-to-run option in cold climates where gas is already in the house.

Either way the outdoor unit, indoor coil and refrigerant must be a listed match. An R-410A coil cannot be paired with an R-32 or R-454B condenser.

Shop Heat Pump + Air Handler Systems and Dual Fuel (Heat Pump + Furnace) Systems, or read How to choose the right HVAC system.

Sizing, SEER2 and HSPF2

Heat pumps are sized in tons (12,000 BTU/h per ton), and a ducted system moves roughly 400 CFM of air per ton. The correct size comes from an ACCA Manual J load calculation, not square footage. Oversized units short-cycle and dehumidify poorly; undersized ones lean on backup heat. In cold climates you size for the heating load and let an inverter compressor modulate down in summer.

Efficiency is rated two ways under the DOE test procedure in force since 2023:

• SEER2 for cooling. Federal minimum for split heat pumps: 14.3 nationwide.
• HSPF2 for heating. Federal minimum for split heat pumps: 7.5 nationwide.

Mid-range inverter heat pumps land around 16 to 20 SEER2 and 8 to 10 HSPF2.

Shop Heat Pump Condensers or read the USA SEER2 guide and Find the right size for your home.

Inverter vs single-stage

A single-stage heat pump runs at full output or not at all: lowest cost, simple to service, fine in mild climates with good ductwork. A two-stage unit adds a reduced-capacity step for longer, gentler cycles.

An inverter (variable-speed) heat pump modulates the compressor from roughly 25 to 100 percent. It holds temperature and humidity steadier, runs quieter, and keeps more of its heating capacity at low outdoor temperatures. Nearly all mini splits and the better central systems from Goodman, ACiQ, York and Daikin are inverter-driven; the trade-off is a higher purchase price.

Shop Heat Pump Condensers or read Air-source heat pumps explained.

Cold-climate considerations

Every air-source heat pump loses capacity as the outdoor temperature falls. Look at the manufacturer's extended performance data at 17°F and 5°F rather than the nameplate rating at 47°F; a useful benchmark is a unit that still delivers around 70 percent of its rated heating capacity at 5°F. Also plan for:

• Backup heat sized for the design day: electric strips in the air handler or a furnace in a dual-fuel setup.
• A riser stand or wall bracket that keeps the outdoor coil above snow and lets defrost water drain.
• A thermostat with an outdoor sensor so backup heat engages at a sensible balance point rather than on every call.

Shop Thermostats or read Air-source heat pumps explained.

Brands we carry

Brand	What we carry	Typical fit
Goodman	Single-stage, two-stage and inverter condensers; matched systems; R-32 on new models	Value central systems with wide parts availability
ACiQ	Inverter central heat pumps and systems	High-efficiency ducted systems at a mid-range price
MRCOOL	DIY, Universal and Olympus mini splits; single and multi-zone	Ductless rooms, additions, DIY-friendly installs
York	Central heat pump condensers and systems	Contractor-grade central equipment
Guardian	Central heat pump condensers and bundles	Budget-conscious central replacements
Daikin	Inverter heat pumps and mini splits; R-32	Premium efficiency and cold-climate performance

Shop Goodman, ACiQ, MRCOOL or Daikin, or read the heat pump manufacturers guide.

Matching parts and accessories

Installs stall on small parts more often than on equipment. Order these with the system:

• Line set in the diameter the outdoor unit specifies, long enough for the run.
• Equipment pad or riser stand sized to the condenser footprint.
• Disconnect box and whip rated for the unit's minimum circuit ampacity, plus the right breaker.
• Thermostat with an O/B reversing-valve terminal and, for dual fuel, an outdoor sensor or dual-fuel logic.
• Locking refrigerant caps, surge protector, and a drain pan and float switch for the air handler.

Shop Installation Kits, Line Sets and Thermostats, or read the HVAC install prep checklist.

How to buy

The system builder lets you pick a heat pump condenser and a matched air handler, coil or furnace and shows only combinations rated together. For a ductless room, start with the mini split sizing calculator. Equipment ships freight; see shipping options.

FAQ

Do heat pumps work in cold climates?

Yes. Modern inverter heat pumps heat effectively well below 0°F, though capacity falls as it gets colder. Check the 5°F extended rating and pair the unit with properly sized backup heat.

Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas furnace?

It depends on local electric and gas rates and the outdoor temperature. Above roughly 30°F to 40°F a heat pump usually wins; below that gas is often cheaper, which is why dual-fuel systems switch over.

Can I put a new heat pump on my existing indoor coil?

Only if the coil is a listed match and uses the same refrigerant. New heat pumps use R-32 or R-454B, so an existing R-410A coil almost always has to go too.

What does HSPF2 mean?

Seasonal heating efficiency: total heat delivered over a heating season divided by electricity used. The split-system minimum is 7.5; higher is better.

Shop at HVAC MORE

Browse Heat Pump Condensers, Heat Pump + Air Handler Systems and Dual Fuel Systems, or start with the system builder. Unsure which configuration fits? Contact us with your model numbers and we will help you match it.