Anyone have experience with a heat pump system in Wisconsin?
Answers:
A hybrid system is both. You have a heat pump which can cool in warm weather and heat in cold weather. When the cold weather gets severe, the heat pump can't keep up, so you switch to the gas furnace. I think it's really a case of buying two heating systems. How much extra does the hybrid cost? How long is it going to take to recover that cost? A very long time, I suspect.
Another thing to consider is how long your severe cold season is. Remember, the heat pump can't keep up in severe cold. Even here in Texas, the gas furnace is a popular solution. In Wisconsin, I would certainly consider a traditional gas furnace to be the best answer, unless the cost difference is small.
Other answers:
yea ive run across those system also doing a/c work here in texas, and infact my boss is planning to do the same at his house. the one thing is that the heatpump does cost a few $$ extra than a standard condenser due to extra valves and controls, and they need to install a control box to allow gas heat and heat pump to work properly. if the heatpump unit is a hight effeciency system,, then yea at temps above 35 you could save a few bucks, after that kick in gas.
yea ive run across those system also doing a/c work here in texas, and infact my boss is planning to do the same at his house. the one thing is that the heatpump does cost a few $$ extra than a standard condenser due to extra valves and controls, and they need to install a control box to allow gas heat and heat pump to work properly. if the heatpump unit is a hight effeciency system,, then yea at temps above 35 you could save a few bucks, after that kick in gas.