I'm considering upgrading my heating and cooling system from one that uses just an AC with heat strips to a heat pump system. My house is around 1200 sqft and has good insulation, located in lower Missouri. I think a heat pump with heat strip backup would work well for the temperatures here. I'm curious if anyone has experienced significant cost savings with this kind of switch. Also, with tax credits set to expire soon, is it worth doing the upgrade now? I'd love to hear any cost estimates for similar upgrades.
3 Answers
The age of your current AC is important! If it's been running since 2011, switching to a high-efficiency heat pump could significantly lower your summer cooling costs and your winter heating expenses too. Heat pumps generally provide more consistent comfort throughout the year. Ultimately, whether this upgrade is worth it depends on how you weigh these benefits against the costs involved.
It’s interesting you have an AC with heat strips, especially since most places have moved towards heat pumps as the standard. If your current AC is around 14 years old, it might either last longer or need replacing soon. If you're planning to replace it anyway, going for a heat pump could pay off pretty quickly in savings.
My split system is over 20 years old, and I'm planning to switch to a heat pump as my heating bills are much higher than my cooling ones. It sounds like your area is similar to mine, and going for a heat pump seems like a solid move if your current setup is outdated.