heat pump

noun

|Updated on: 27 Jun 2018

Definition of heat pump

: an apparatus for heating or cooling (such as a building) by transferring heat by mechanical means from or to an external reservoir (such as the ground, water, or outside air)

See heat pump defined for kids

Recent Examples of heat pump from the Web

First-rate insulation and a geothermal heat pump helped win the home the Pocono Builders’ award for most energy-efficient house built in 2012.

— sally a. downey, Philly.com, "Poconos weekend retreat becomes year-round home," 12 June 2018
The system’s efficiency is boosted by a geothermal heat pump that sheds excess heat or cold through a circuit of underground pipes.

— National Geographic, "From Historic to Cutting Edge: Revitalizing Iconic Buildings," 25 May 2018
Officials say items that don't qualify for the tax break, even if they are labeled Energy Star, include water heaters, stoves, heat pumps, clothes dryers and kegerators.

— anna m. tinsley, star-telegram, "Texans: Need an air conditioner, ceiling fan or light bulbs? They are tax free May 26-28 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 21 May 2018
None of them will use natural gas to heat water or air, relying instead on electricity and heat pumps.

— david r. baker, San Francisco Chronicle, "The clean-energy home of the future ... outside Fresno," 18 May 2018
Some models don’t work with heat pumps, which can pose a problem in the winter, so check with whoever installed or services your system.

— emily main, Good Housekeeping, "Is It Better To Leave Your A/C On All Day Or Turn It Off?," 1 July 2016
Qualifying solar electric, solar water heating, geothermal heat pump, or wind energy property expenses are eligible for a credit of up to 30%, with limits based on the capacity of some systems.

— motley fool staff, USA TODAY, "Taking advantage of tax reform: 19 tax hacks for 2018," 28 Mar. 2018
Alabamians' heavy use of air conditioning in the summer and electric heat pumps in the winter ends up costing us, according to a state-by-state analysis performed by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "Alabama residents pay 2nd most for electricity, study says," 27 Feb. 2018
Tax credits are extended for investments homeowners make to improve energy efficiency, such as solar panels, windows, skylights, water heaters and heat pumps.

— marcy gordon, Houston Chronicle, "Senators shatter caps, find room for more tax breaks," 8 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heat pump.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.