Hi Mary,

I live in Nova Scotia and use a small (14,000 BTU/H) ductless heat
pump to supplement my oil-fired boiler. It works extremely well in
milder weather but once temperatures drop below -5C (23F), the amount
of heat it can produce drops off rather sharply. Although I wasn't
able to displace all of my oil consumption (and it was never intended
to do so), it did save me over $600.00 on my heating costs last year
(and with rapidly rising oil prices, I fully expect my future savings
to be even more significant).

If you do decide to go this route, be sure to contact your local
provider to see what incentives or rebates they may offer. For
example, the Western Iowa Power Cooperative offers a $300.00 per ton
rebate, so a three-ton heat pump would net you $900.00.

See: http://www.wipco.com/rebates.htm#ELE...0HEAT%20SYSTEM

Other utilities, such as Alliant, provide attractive no interest or
low interest financing options.

See:
http://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/gr...ub/p012829.pdf

You might also qualify for special, discounted rates.

See: http://www.federatedrea.coop/products/index.htm
and http://www.cfu.net/pdf/co_electric_rates.pdf

An air source heat pump is not going to perform as well as a ground
source model in colder climates like yours but then, it won't cost
nearly as much to install either -- that may be an acceptable trade
off after all. Also, bear in mind Iowa enjoys some of the lowest
electricity rates in the nation, so backup electric heat could very
well be competitive with propane at today's prices, especially if you
qualify for one of those discounted rates.

Personally, if I were faced with replacing an existing furnace and
installing a new central a/c, I would most likely go for a high
performance air source heat pump.

Cheers,
Paul

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:50:44 +0100, maryiowa
wrote:

We have a 1977 propane furnace and are considering installing an air to
air electric heat pump. Living in northern Iowa we are getting
different opinions. Some say we are too far north and recommend staying
getting high efficiency propane. The heat pump would have and electric
furnace for back up in colder temps. Does anyone in colder climates
have a heat pump and what do you think of it and of the costs?