What is the primary purpose of a heat pump in HVAC systems?

The primary purpose of a heat pump in HVAC systems is to provide both heating and cooling. Heat pumps are versatile systems designed to transfer heat from one place to another, which allows them to extract heat from the outside air or ground for heating during colder months and reversely provide cooling by moving heat from indoors to the outdoors during warmer months. This dual functionality distinguishes heat pumps from traditional heating or cooling systems that typically serve only one purpose.

In contrast, while filtering air for better indoor air quality, regulating humidity levels, and circulating air efficiently are important aspects of overall HVAC operation, they do not define the fundamental role of heat pumps. These tasks may be accomplished through auxiliary systems or components, but the heat pump's core functionality focuses on the thermal comfort it provides year-round.