A couples of points. The reversing valve and defrost circuitry are not typically items that fail. Most of the failures of HVAC equipment are evaporator coils and compressors (these are components that are used in both cooling and heating mode). For Florida, the primary use of heating strips should be when the system goes into defrost mode. For most systems, the temperature is not low enough to require heating strips to supplement the heat pump. I live in SE GA and my heating strips have never come on (except for when the system goes into defrost mode). To say that the "heat exchanger won't work" when it is "cold" is not really accurate. The amount of heat that a heat pump produces (actually transfers) is reduced as the outside temperature drops. At some point, the heat loss of the house could exceed the heat produced by the heat pump and the heat strips would need to come on to maintain the temperature of the house. Again, in FL, this is not a typical event. Regardless, heat pumps are still good investments. My experience with both AC systems (with gas heat) and heat pumps is such that heat pumps are no less reliable and are very energy efficient. Your mileage may vary. Just giving information based on my experience with having heat pumps for 15 years.
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Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa
1. The instructor was simply telling the class that over the life of the equipment the service technicians would enjoy a greater revenue stream from the maintenance and repair of heat pumps than from conventional air conditioners with heat strips.
2. The A/C unit in my house in Tampa will accept 5 heat strips, but only has 3 installed because the winters are so mild that 3 is sufficient to warm the house. This IS Florida.
And the absence of the "reversing valve and circuitry" means one less thing to go wrong.
By the way, heat pumps have heat strips for conditions where it is so cold outside that the heat exchanger won't work and heat strips are necessary to warm the house. That is what that "emergency" setting on the thermostat is for.
I wasn't offering advice. Just giving information. It works for me.
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