> because it’s more expensive than natural gas in the US
Assuming the antecedent for "it" is electricity, yes - on a per BTU basis nat gas is cheaper, but the beauty of heat pumps is that they move ambient heat instead of releasing it from chemical bonds, so they cost about the same to operate as nat gas water heaters.
Coupled with solar, their operating coat gets even cheaper.
I agree that they are more expensive to build than a simple nat gas heater, but they also don't need exhaust ventilation ducts. Also, higher efficiency condensing nat gas furnaces are also more expensive, requiring fans to force cooled exhaust gases out of the exhaust.
> easy to work on
This is the reason everyday non green-focused HVAC contractors have given me for why they don't install heat pumps. They and their crews aren't familiar with them.
Assuming the antecedent for "it" is electricity, yes - on a per BTU basis nat gas is cheaper, but the beauty of heat pumps is that they move ambient heat instead of releasing it from chemical bonds, so they cost about the same to operate as nat gas water heaters.
Coupled with solar, their operating coat gets even cheaper.
I agree that they are more expensive to build than a simple nat gas heater, but they also don't need exhaust ventilation ducts. Also, higher efficiency condensing nat gas furnaces are also more expensive, requiring fans to force cooled exhaust gases out of the exhaust.
> easy to work on
This is the reason everyday non green-focused HVAC contractors have given me for why they don't install heat pumps. They and their crews aren't familiar with them.