When selecting a traditional gas furnace system versus heat pump there are some factors that you will want to consider.  Perhaps you have heard heat pumps don't work well in this climate, that's absolutely false.  Heat pumps are ideally suited for this tropical climate and are more efficient than gas furnaces when the ambient temperature is above 35°, which is almost always in Houston.  


The cooling function of a heat pump is the same as a traditional air-conditioning system.  To heat a home, heat pumps simply run like an air conditioner, but backwards.  Thus, putting heat in the home, as opposed to pulling heat out of the home in cooling mode.


There is a drawback to heat pumps in this market.  That is we don't have as many guys who really know how to work on them, simply because we don't have that many implemented in Houston, relative to typical AC systems.  While the basic principals of a typical AC system apply in heat pumps, there are a few technical details that are different, principally the switch that allows it to run backwards in heating mode.   As with your car or any other piece of equipment, it should be noted a technician whom is unfamiliar with the details of a system, can make a mess of it.


When evaluating the costs of a heat pump, it is a pay now or pay more later decision.  The on going operating costs of a heat pump are lower than the typical gas furnace and AC system.  However, heat pumps do have a higher upfront cost, roughly six to eight hundred dollars more per unit.


Heat pumps are installed with supplemental electric heat that kick in when the heat pump could not keep up with the heating requirement, roughly when outside temperatures fall below the low 30's.  Thus, in this climate the supplemental heat would not be used very often.  But on the rare really cold night in Houston the electric heat would kick in.  Some will point out electric heat is inefficient, and it is.  However, it would run so infrequently the cost would have little impact on total operating costs of the system.


If you can have technicians familiar with heat pumps for service and installation, a heat pump is a quality cost effective solution to heat and cool your home in Houston's tropical climate.