After reading about how energy smart heat pumps were, I wanted one for my Lee’s Summit home.
I wasn’t scared of the cost, I had the money and could always make more. I liked the idea of having energy smart HVAC equipment. I also liked having cleaner indoor air quality. When I started getting ready to purchase I found something alarming. A heat pump is only good in moderate climates. Since it uses existing heat energy, you actually need to have some heat. So if you live in Lee’s Summit, MO like me, you can’t expect a heat pump to find heat energy in -20 degree weather. Really a heat pump is only effective until around 40 degrees. After that you are staying in a cold house and using very expensive emergency heating. I was very disappointed I couldn’t have my heat pump after all. Thankfully I called my HVAC dealership and complained about it. The HVAC worker informed me that I could just do a dual fuel HVAC system in MO. This combines a gas furnace and a heat pump system. For most of the year the heat pump is the one at work. The heat pump provides AC and heating for temperatures above forty degrees. When winter takes over and it gets really cold in Missouri, that is when the gas furnace is tagged in. What is nice is that I never need to do a thing. My HVAC system automatically changes from electric to gas based on the temperature. So for around 75% of the year I am getting the most energy efficient HVAC option out there.