Are you sure that all heat pumps will operate as you describe? My guess is the OP is being quoted the typical basic heat pump that adds a few hundred dollars to the price of the equivalent low/mid-efficiency air conditioner, and is designed to be installed along with "emergency" heat from another source in cold climates. I'm sure heat pumps have improved in the decades since mine was manufactured, but I believe there are still many (maybe a majority in terms of sales?) that are not designed to work without an alternative heat source in all climates.That is typically called a "dual fuel system."Although it's possible to have a standalone heat pump, the heat pump in my home worked in conjunction with the gas furnace. Basically the heat pump functioned at some intermediate temperatures, below which the gas furnace provided heat. At least until very recently(?) I don't believe heat pumps functioned effectively in zero or below temperatures; the one in my home definitely didn't. Probably the vendor quoting the heat pump for the OP is supply a heat pump that would not effectively heat the home in all the expected temperature ranges.You wrote "Trane or Lennox Furnace + Heat Pump." The indoor unit is an air handler, and the outdoor unit is the compressor. With a furnace, the indoor unit typically has a gas fired furnace + fan. With a Heat pump, the indoor unit uses the same set of coils used in the summer to cool, but they heat. There is no furnace. A heat pump is an air conditioner running in reverse.
Heat pumps function perfectly well in zero or below temps. The notion that they don't is rubbish. Improperly installed heat pumps do not work well, as with most other improperly installed equipment.
Statistics: Posted by tibbitts — Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:09 pm — Replies 13 — Views 724