I recently learned about heat pumps.
I’d never heard of this type of temperature control system before.
When my husband and I started touring houses for sale in the south, we noticed that most of the properties only had one unit to handle both heating and cooling requirements. Living in the north, we needed the power of a furnace to combat temperatures down to twenty below zero. Our air conditioner was a luxury that we enjoyed but didn’t actually need. When the real estate agent pointed out the heat pump and expected us to be impressed, I figured it was time to do some research. I learned that this type of electric heat pump works by moving heat between the inside and outside of the house. In the warmer months, it absorbs heat from the living environment and uses refrigerant to transfer it outdoors. When the conditions turn colder, the system switches to heating mode and reverses the operation. It takes advantage of ambient heat available in the outdoor air and sends it into the home. The process requires no burning of fossil fuels and creates no greenhouse gasses. This makes the system especially safe and environmentally friendly. Because of very efficient operation, the heat pump also keeps utility costs low while maintaining ideal temperature. A heat pump is quite effective at handling excess humidity but won’t dry out the air in heating mode. My husband and I ended up purchasing a home equipped with a heat pump and we’ve been extremely happy with its performance.