If high heating bills are giving you gas pains, here are two words that can bring relief — heat pump. In Georgia’s climate, an electric heat pump is the most efficient and economical way to heat and cool your home.

A heat pump is basically a device that extracts heat from a source and transfers it. In summer, a heat pump takes heat from inside your house and sends it outside; in winter, it takes heat from the outside air and 'pumps' it inside. There’s enough heat in the outside air to heat your house even when the temperature is below freezing. By using the heat in the air, heat pumps create two to three times more heat energy than they use in electrical energy.

It is true that if you’re used to gas heat, heating with a heat pump will feel different. Older gas furnaces circulate high-temperature air until the temperature reaches the thermostat setting. Heat pumps, like all new highly efficient heating systems, including new gas furnaces, circulate air that’s closer to the thermostat setting. Therefore, heat pumps circulate more air, and the air coming out of a vent doesn’t feel as warm. However, this also means heating is generally more even throughout the house, without the hot and cold spots you can have with older gas heating. As an added bonus, heat pumps take less moisture out of the air, so you have fewer winter attacks of dry skin and static electricity.

Some people’s opinions about heat pumps were formed in the 1970s, when there were problems with heat pump performance. Heat pump technology has improved dramatically since then — and heating and air conditioning contractors are more knowledgeable about installing heat pumps properly. To work most efficiently, heat pumps need to be the right size for the space to be heated and cooled, and have the right kind of ductwork. Also, some people still think of heating with electricity as more expensive, because older forms of electric heat, such as the electric baseboard heaters, were expensive to operate.

People who move to this area from colder regions are often not familiar with heat pumps. Heat pumps are less efficient when the temperature outside is below 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. When it gets that cold, it’s usually necessary to add another source of heat. Most heat pumps use electric resistance heat as supplemental heat, which is fairly expensive to operate. Another option is a dual-fuel heat pump, which uses a gas furnace for backup heat. In Georgia, however, it only drops below 30¡ about three percent of the year.

If you’re thinking about getting a heat pump, look for a heating and air conditioning contractor with experience installing heat pumps. Also, look at the efficiency of the heat pump. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) rates the cooling efficiency, while the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures heating efficiency. Federal efficiency standards require a HSPF of at least 6.8 and a SEER of at least 10. The most efficient conventional heat pumps have a HSPF of between 9 and 10, and a SEER of 14 or above. Older heat pumps are usually less efficient, and switching to a new unit can reduce your heating and cooling bills considerably.

If you have a heat pump, here are a few tips for running it efficiently:

• Don't keep adjusting your thermostat. The supplemental heat will come on when the thermostat is raised, resulting in higher energy consumption. If you want to save energy by lowering the temperature at night and when you’re away, get a programmable setback thermostat designed for heat pumps.
• With all heating and cooling systems, it’s important to clean or change filters once a month, or as needed.
• Have a heating and air conditioning professional check the system's performance regularly.

If you decide you want the more efficient heating and cooling an electric heat pump offers, Jackson EMC has financing for energy-related home improvements, including heat pumps. To find out more, contact your local office.