An experimental study was conducted to investigated the effect of refrigerant flow control on the performance of a variable-speed heat pump operating in both cooling and heating mode. For this purpose, cooling and heating capacity, EER and refrigerant mass flow rate corresponding to an electronic valve as well as a capillary tube were measured as functions of compressor speed, length of capillary tube (or valve opening of the electronic valve), refrigerant charge, and outdoor temperature. From the comparison of experimental results, it was found that the performance variation due to the electronic valve opening became significant as the operating conditions(outdoor temperature and compressor speed) deviated from the standard condition at which heating capacity and EER were rated for the indicated capillary tube.