Forced Air Furnace W/Air Heat Pump Backup

mahleumon

I will be building a new home this year have some questions about my heating options.

This house will be built in Pennsylvania, so there will be cold winters and mild to hot summers. I was thinking about having a Gas Furnace with a 92.1% AFUE rating and an Electric Air-to-Air Heat Pump backup system. Would it be wise to install the Heat Pump at all or should I stay with just the Gas Furnace by itself?

I would gladly take any thoughts or commits about this topic.

Thanks

rakes9720

Actually, the gas furnace would be your backup system, and the heat pump would do most of the heating. The heat pump will run until the temperature drops below the balance point -- the point where it is more cost effecient to run the furnace instead of the heat pump.

I live in northeast Ohio and our heat pump runs until it drops below 30 degrees, then the furnace comes on. It saves a lot on gas, and I think it is a great choice to have the combination but if electricity is very expensive in your area I would stick with the furnace.