Heat Pump (Brunswick: for sale, houses, pros and cons)

[LuAnnePA]

Hello, we have been seeing several houses for sale in North Carolina which include Heat Pumps for their cooling system. Can anyone tell us the pros and cons of using this type of system and how effective it is at cooling in the middle of the summer? Thank you!

[carolinadawg2]

Heat pumps work fine for cooling. Where they aren't so great is heating. Generally, winters in coastal NC are so mild that its not a major issue for most people.

[LLN]

I believe there is a recent thread on heat pumps in NC. I would say it was about 60/40 with the majority not thinking much about their heating ability. The cooling is a non issue. I am in Eastern NC, have gas heat, and would have it no other way.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by LuAnnePA

Hello, we have been seeing several houses for sale in North Carolina which include Heat Pumps for their cooling system. Can anyone tell us the pros and cons of using this type of system and how effective it is at cooling in the middle of the summer? Thank you!

If you are looking in coastal NC, the huge majority of house will used heat pumps for both heating and cooling. I agree with the previous comment that they are very effective in summer. However, the are very few alternatives to their use in winter. Natural gas is not available except in south Brunswick County and a few other areas. Propane gas makes a good supplement for a fireplace but it is more expansive to use as a winter heating fuel. Heating oil and wood are almost never used.

Personally, I find the heat pump feels a little too cool in the winter, as the air blows out at 90+ degrees rather than over 100 degrees which you get from a gas furnace. However, I have no choice.

If you building a house from scratch, you might look into a geo-thermal system with the heat pump, as they could be very efficient.