How do I know if I have a heat pump?

Since heat pumps can look like air conditioners, here are some tips for telling them apart:

- Since an A/C unit generally needs to be paired with a heating system, try to locate a furnace or alternate system (e.g. oil, propane, boiler, etc.) in your home. If you can't find another method of heating, you may have a heat pump.

- Set your thermostat to heat mode, and once you feel your home heating up, check to see if the outdoor unit is running. If it is, it’s a heat pump.

- Find the manufacturer name and model number on the outdoor unit, and search the web for a product description of that model and more information.

- Check for a yellow EnergyGuide label on the outdoor unit and look for the words "heat pump.”

- Turn the power off to your system, then remove the thermostat display from its base. Check the wire terminal labeled O/B— if there’s a white wire or no wire, you likely have a conventional heating system instead of a heat pump.

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