this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2023
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I'm from North Carolina, heat pumps are pretty common here, I grew up in a heat pump only house.
The system has resistive strips, sometimes labelled "emergency heat" on the thermostat. Those can provide heat when the outside unit can't; and I believe they are used to defrost the outside unit.
There are "hybrid" systems that include a furnace rather than resistive heating elements. If it gets so cold the heat pump can't handle it, it lights the furnace. This is perhaps an upgrade for folks who live with an air conditioner plus furnace system; basically your furnace doesn't light as often, instead your air conditioner runs in reverse.
Where in North Carolina? I've grown up and west NC, have since moved to mid-NC, never seen a house with a heat pump.
The Sandhills is full of them.
Interesting. I wonder if they'll ever become common in the greater Charlotte area.
The climate is perfect for them. We've got folks from New England or Canada talking about adopting heat pumps, where it really does get so cold that it's a concern. Our +30F winters are perfectly acceptable for heat pumps year round, and most folks have forced air central AC anyway. It's really a no brainer here.