When I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, I expected nothing but brutal heat all year round.
I was very surprised by the changing of the seasons.
In the winter, the sky remains a beautiful blue and the daytime temperature climbs into the sixties or seventies. While the nights and early mornings can be chilly, the temperature rarely drops below freezing. However, I’ve seen traces of snow. In the fall, we enjoy gorgeous fall and the spring provides some cooler days. The summers are long and hot, with temperatures often soaring above a hundred degrees. Because humidity levels are lower than many other regions of the country, the conditions don’t feels as sticky or suffocating as I expected. My home in Phoenix is outfitted with an electric heat pump, which works perfectly to handle every type of weather demand. One of the main advantages of a heat pump is that a single unit provides both heating and cooling, taking up less space and requiring less maintenance. The system runs on electricity and eliminates the traditional combustion process. Rather than burning fuel to create heat, the system takes advantage of ambient heat available in the outdoor air and transfers it inside. It uses refrigerant to bring heat into and out of the house. The process is especially clean, safe and environmentally friendly. The heat pump generates no fumes, carbon monoxide or greenhouse gasses. In cooling mode, the unit operates exactly like a conventional air conditioner. I have been impressed with the energy efficiency of the heat pump. It’s also quiet and has proven quite reliable.