What is a heat pump, and how does it heat?
A heat pump is the same refrigerant system as your air conditioner, with one added part — a reversing valve. In summer it moves heat out of your home; in winter it runs in reverse, pulling heat from the outdoor air and moving it inside.
It sounds surprising, but even cool outdoor air holds heat energy, and a heat pump is very good at concentrating and moving it. Because it transfers heat rather than creating it by burning fuel, it can deliver more heating energy than the electricity it consumes — which is exactly why it's so efficient in a mild climate like ours.
Why are heat pumps so common in Florida?
Florida's climate plays directly to a heat pump's strengths: a long cooling season, a short and mild heating season, and homes that are usually all-electric.
- Dual purpose: one system cools 8–10 months and heats the rest — no separate furnace to buy or maintain.
- Efficiency: in our mild winters, a heat pump is one of the most cost-effective ways to heat a home.
- All-electric: many Space Coast neighborhoods don't have natural-gas service, so an electric heat pump is the practical choice.
What are heat strips and auxiliary heat?
Auxiliary (AUX) heat is an electric-resistance backup built into the air handler. It helps the heat pump when it's unusually cold or when you ask for a big temperature jump — and it's what your thermostat shows as "AUX" or "EM" heat.
Because resistance heat creates warmth directly, it uses noticeably more electricity than the heat pump itself. That's normal for a brief cold snap, but if AUX heat runs often or for long stretches, it can point to a refrigerant, defrost, or sizing issue worth checking. Setting the thermostat to "EM heat" forces the backup to run alone — handy if the heat pump fails, but not something to leave on day to day.
How efficient are heat pumps?
Heat pumps are rated two ways: SEER2 for cooling and HSPF2 for heating. Higher numbers mean lower operating cost, and modern systems are dramatically more efficient than units from 10–15 years ago.
Over Florida's long cooling season, even a few points of SEER2 improvement adds up on your bills — which is part of why upgrading an aging system can be worth it. To see how that factors into a repair-or-replace decision, read our AC repair vs. replacement guide.
Lifespan and maintenance
Expect about 10–15 years from a heat pump in Florida. Because it works year-round here, regular maintenance matters even more than it would for a heating-only system.
Coastal homes, take note
On the barrier islands, salt air corrodes the outdoor unit faster. Ask about coastal-rated coils and more frequent rinses, and keep up with annual service — it's the single best way to reach the high end of that lifespan range.
Signs your heat pump needs service
A heat pump that's struggling usually tells you before it quits. Watch for:
- Cool air from the vents while in heating mode.
- Auxiliary or emergency heat running far more than usual.
- Heavy ice on the outdoor unit that doesn't clear on its own.
- Short cycling, odd noises, or a sudden jump in your electric bill.