Quick answer
A heat pump in Miami is a split system that cools like a standard AC and can reverse to provide heat. It heats far more efficiently than electric resistance heat strips, qualifies for FPL rebates and, when it meets federal criteria, the energy efficiency tax credit. For most Miami homes it costs little more than a straight AC.
Written by Sylvia Denton, HVAC Guides Editor. Updated 2026-09-22.
Miami's winters are mild, with only a few nights a year dropping below the mid-40s. Many homes handle those nights with electric heat strips in the air handler, which work like a toaster: simple, but expensive to run. A heat pump uses its compressor to move heat into the house instead, delivering the same warmth for a fraction of the electricity.
The rest of the year a heat pump is simply an air conditioner. Modern heat pumps come in the same efficiency levels as AC systems, from the SEER2 minimum up to variable speed inverter models that also dehumidify very well.
Because the price difference between a straight AC and a heat pump is small, and heat pumps can qualify for extra incentives, many Miami homeowners choose a heat pump when they replace their system.
