• Walton EMC's winter rate is approximately one-half of its summer rate. This makes the heat pump home the most economical to heat and cool in our service area.
• Heat pumps are two to four times more efficient than other heating and cooling systems.
• All-electric heat pump homes require only one deposit with a single utility company and get only one monthly utility bill.
• Maintenance of heat pumps is simple and economical.
• The lower utility bills in efficient heat pump homes allow the home buyer to put more of the monthly budget toward the home mortgage. Efficient heat pump homes typically get higher appraisals.

• Heat pumps have no pilot light to go out.
• Heat pumps are cool to the touch and provide peace of mind (freedom from the natural fear of gas explosion and asphyxiation).
• Heat pumps give off no fumes or harmful products of combustion. They are not hazardous in utility rooms where a gasoline lawn mower, paints and other volatile products are often stored.

• Heat pumps involve no combustion processes that create indoor pollution responsible for certain allergies.
• Heat pumps have no soot, carbon or smoke to soil walls.
• Heat pumps create no acidic condensate.
• Heat pumps operate quietly with no combustion rumble.

• Heat pumps introduce conditioned air to the living space at a more comfortable temperature and velocity. This promotes even heating and reduces hot and cold spots.
• Humidity in efficient heat pump homes is maintained at a more comfortable level because of tighter construction and less drying of conditioned air.

For every unit of electrical energy, some heat pumps give back three or even four units of thermal energy. That figures out to 300 or 400 percent efficiency. Compare that to the most efficient gas furnace at about 97 percent. That's almost the highest efficiency common fossil fuel heating systems can ever reach.

To make heat, a gas furnace uses fire. The fire is fueled by propane or natural gas and it warms a heat exchanger inside the furnace to several thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Air in the ductwork blows across the heat exchanger, is warmed, and carries the heat to the living space.

Refrigerant in the outside unit absorbs this heat. A compressor pumps the heated refrigerant inside to a coil (like a car radiator) where air in the ductwork picks up the heat and carries it into your home. The refrigerant then goes back to the outdoor unit to pick up another load of heat.

Just reverse the cycle for summer cooling. The heat pump's indoor coil soaks up heat and comfort-robbing moisture from inside the house. The refrigerant takes the heat to the outside unit where it's released. The moisture goes out a drain on the bottom of the indoor unit.

Some heat pumps are connected to the earth. Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the earth's constant temperature six feet below the surface to heat and cool. And if the heat pump has a waste heat recovery unit attached, the heat from inside the house can be used again to heat water. And since the heat is normally "thrown away" to the atmosphere or ground, the hot water it makes is free!