Glossary · Heating, cooling & ventilation
Ducted heat pump
Also called: central heat pump · ducted air-source heat pump · ducted mini-split · ducted split heat pump · add-on heat pump
A heat pump that heats and cools through ductwork, like central air conditioning, either on its own or paired with a furnace.
What it means
An outdoor unit pairs with an indoor coil on a furnace or with a dedicated air handler, and warm or cool air flows through your existing ducts. Duct condition matters: leaky or undersized ducts reduce comfort and efficiency, so a duct leakage test is worth doing first. Paired with a gas furnace, it becomes a dual-fuel (hybrid) system.
Why it matters in an audit
For homes with good ductwork it's often the most straightforward whole-house heat pump option, and the indoor and outdoor parts must be a certified match (see AHRI certificate) to deliver the rated efficiency.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your auditor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR Cold Climate, ducted | HSPF2 ≥ 8.1 | energystar.gov ↗ |
| NEEP v4.0, ducted | HSPF2 above 7.7 | neep.org ↗ |