"Garyg, yes, if the backup were resistance heat strips then it goes back into heat pump mode as soon as the defrost is complete, right? But on this dual fuel setup, at least on my friend's installation, it stays on the propane furnace until thermostat is satisfied, even after defrost is complete. This might concern the original poster because he is looking at dual fuel. Because the every-90-minute operation of the furnace is enough to make up for any that the temperature has come down if the heat pump has been unable to do the job alone, the balance point in this case is a moot point." - You are indeed correct. Good point about back-up strips vs gas back-up having to run to setpoint while in defrost. Not fun if you have expensive propane as back-up. To "Prinesurf": Your utilities, both gas and electric, are cheap. I see no present advantages going with a heat pump (and I am a heat pump guy, by the way). The only reason to go heat pump is to protect yourself from future changes in utility prices which, as "KY114" states, may be a good reason. It would be something that I would consider. "1) I'm looking at how long it will take to recoup a $1800 upgrade to a 13SEER HP, then" - If your gas and electric prices stay the same differential cost for the next 15 years, you will not recover the $1800. "2) if I move up to a 15SEER pump I'm going to guess that will put me upwards of $2500 (since his quote for a 16SEER variable spped a/c unit was $2900)" - You will never recover this additional cost no matter what prices do. "So after all is said and done, when will I recoup these costs? It may be a wash just to stay with the gas furnace!" - Quite possibly, as long as the difference in utility costs stays the same. But we can't predict the future, only prepare for it. I do not want to sway you either way, just provide you with enough info to make the best educated decision that you can. Good luck.

I have a 9k BTU Sanyo heat pump in my home office. Completely trouble free for over 10 years now. I love it. I installed a couple of Samsungs in some elevator machine rooms a few years back and they did not perform well, seemed a little under rated if you ask me. I also bought a Samsung refer at Best Buy a while back and the compressor lock rotor'd after 40 days. BB would not take it back because it was past the 30-day exchange warranty and I did not buy the "extended" warranty from them. Samsung service was a nightmare, and had mutliple compressor failures in the first 18 mos. Almost impossible to get parts or service for it. I ended up giving it away and buying a Kitchen Aid refer. I strongly reccommend AGAINST anything Samsung.

tigerdunes, I do not currently have an a/c unit. He did tell me the G71 is being discontinued. I have thought about going with the SL280 which is 80% AFUE, but if going with the heat pump i can only assume i will be using this furnace a couple weeks out of the year so it should not reall matter with the lower afue. But on the flip side isn't that counter productive when I am trying to go with a duel fuel source to hedge again energy costs. I think the rates above are petty accurate as I don't have them handy at this moment. I also realize the costco rebate is not free but might come in handy when negotiating prices. Thanks for your help.

I still have not made a decision, I am leaning towards the Lennox or Rheem, however Trane rep. called today and lowered his price by $200 I asked about his 2 ton unit when everyone else is quoting 3 ton and he told me that when he did his heat load calcs. that we came up 22,000 and a 2 ton can handle 24,000 so a 2 ton is what is needed, he said if we were not happy with the unit after install. then he would put in a larger unit until we were satisfied, of course I would make them put that in writing. So what are your thoughts? I have a few concerns, first his heat strips are not staged, he does not have tin plated coils, he said there units are made of the same metal so they do not have different metals rubbing and they only have 6-12 welds vs. other systems with 10 times that amount? 4TWR4024A1000A XR14 split heat pump 2 ton 4TEE3F31A1000A variable speed air tite air handler TCONT803A 3H/2C 7 day prog. auto changeover touch screen TAYREFLN230 Brazed insulated lineset BAYHTR1410BRKA Matched backup supplemental hear strips install new thermostat wire condensate drain condenser pad 4"riser for heat pump remove replace coil and outdoor until level 1 with furnace 10 year parts and labor warranty $7342.00 Also Lennox is offering a $500 rebate on this unit. XP19-036 3 ton 18.6 SEER/12.7EER/9.3 HSPF CBX40UHV-048 air handler with ECM motor $7321.00 without rebate only 10 yr parts 1 yr. labor warranty Thank you so much for your help!!!