A home heat pump can provide you with a more affordable heating and cooling solution than having both a furnace and centralized air conditioning - under the right circumstances.
But how do you know if this type of heating/cooling system is right for you? Here are a few things to look at.
One consideration is the seasonal climate in your area.
If it regularly drops below freezing then it may be inefficient to use a pump since it takes more energy to move heat from the cold outside to the hotter atmosphere inside your house.
In this case, you may also need a backup source of heating, which could be a gas or oil-fired furnace that provides a better source of heat.
Another is the cost of a home heat pump relative to centralized air conditioning of the same efficiency rating and capacity.
Contractors may also charge more to install a heat pump than a central air conditioner.
Related to this is the expense of running a pump that operates on electricity compared to a furnace that uses oil.
Although natural gas and oil is generally more affordable, in some areas of the US hydroelectric dams make electricity cheaper.
A final consideration is how long each type of system will last.
Since pumps run all year long, they will not last as long as an air conditioner which runs only during the summer months.
They will also have higher maintenance costs, although this may be covered in part by the extended warranties offered by some pump manufacturers.