Whether or not an air conditioner or heat pump is better suited to your home will depend largely on the appliances already available on the property. The biggest advantage for a heat pump is that it’s built to both cool things down in the summer and raise the temperature come winter. But, if your house already has a built-in furnace, electric baseboard heaters or other devices in good working order, then it’s probably not worth splurging on another expensive machine that does more than you need.
Air conditioners, meanwhile, are only used for cooling, and typically work on just one room at a time. They are less expensive to purchase and install than a heat pump, however, and cost less on average to run and maintain overall. Thus, an air conditioner is an option well worth exploring if all you need is something to chill a room or two in your house during summer’s sweltering heat.