[rfuerst911sc]

So our retirement house that we purchased two years ago has a Trane dual fuel furnace . So when heat requirements are light it heats via the heat pump . When the temp sensor says I need more heat the LP furnace kicks on . The system was built and installed in 1996 .

This past week the heat pump portion quit working , I called " the guy " and he determined the temp sensor is kaput and a new one has been ordered it will be in next week. Temporarily he has wired the system so just the furnace comes on so we have heat .

I want to limp this system along for three more years and then I will replace all of it . He suggested going away from a dual fuel as it adds cost and complexity . Instead he said go straight heat pump with back up heat strips . He said a year ago he did exactly that at his house with a Tempstar branded unit and he is very happy with the performance and his electric bills are 200 a month regardless of winter or summer .

He said the modern heat pump around 18 SEER acts much like a mini split so the compressor is variable . I love my mini split in my man cave so this sounds attractive to me . We are in Georgia so hot humid Summers and mild winters with the worst temps in the high 20's which is rare.

Sorry for the long winded post but wanted all the details out there for comment. So any of you guys recently gone with a straight heat pump ? I am thinking in 3 years I might be able to get a 20 SEER which is the same as my mini split . I will keep the LP for the cooktop and water heater .