A heat pump while operating functions as an air conditioner. With that said, warm air within your house flows in the conditioning system components. Heat is then drawn from the air by a refrigerant in the cooling coil. The refrigerant containing warm air is then compressed repeatedly to create more pressure. It flows into the condenser coil from the compression chamber, where it releases heat in the outdoor air.

However, this is how an air conditioner works. A heat pump will also work in the same manner when in cooling mode. But what states the difference is that it can work in a reverse manner where the above process is inverted to provide heat internally. If it's a geothermal heat pump, it will suck in water from a source, and the refrigerant will absorb the heat in the same manner. 

Again, a heat pump will absorb heat in cold air or cold water, pressurize it to increase heat intensity, and then pump into colder spaces. So regardless of the weather patterns, a high-quality heat pump can run even in below zero temperatures. Heat pumps that use ground also leverage the constant temperatures of the ground surface when absorbing heat, and they also use the ground as a sink.

 

Heat pumps are HVAC devices that integrate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning capabilities. They distribute heat energy absorbed from the air, ground, or water bodies to colder regions when it's cold, and the reverse applies when temperatures spike.

They move heat in the opposite direction, irrespective of thermodynamic laws, as they absorb heat in cold regions and release it to warmer spaces. The heat pump's sole function is to heat the radiators, underfloor heating system, and heat convectors. 

Still, they come in handy when heating water in your pool or tanks. Nearly all heat pumps have climate control functionality and can switch from cooling to heating depending on temperature changes. It functions as a conventional air conditioner, but it can work in reverse mode.

They can be installed outdoors on your home's wall or in the attic or basement. You have probably seen box-like equipment outside some buildings. Heat pumps use less electricity to run as the heat distributed is absorbed from the surroundings. 

Also, they do not run-on fossil fuels that leave a carbon footprint on the environment. In terms of effectiveness, heat pumps are installed based on the size of the property. Smaller heat pumps will do just fine in small-sized properties.