Goodman Heat Pump Review

We purchased this Goodman Heat Pump after a hail storm destroyed our central air conditioner in the summer of 2006, when the weather was humid and hot inside and out. Gas prices were rising back then, so we decided to purchase this Goodman Heat Pump in order to save money on fuel oil, which at the time was our only source of heat. A friend in the heating and cooling business recommended this one because of its reputation for running well.

This electric heat pump functions pretty well as an air conditioner, cooling the air to the desired temperature. The main problem with that at my house is that my husband prefers a much cooler temperature than the children and I do.

If you are hot-natured like my husband, you would probably think very highly of this Goodman Heat Pump. Unless the back-up heat turns on (and it will when the outside weather is below a certain temperature or if the regular heat has been running for a specified amount of time), the air coming out of the vents still feels rather cool. I like HOT heat, and it only feels that way to me when the back-up oil heat kicks in.

Currently, we have our thermostat set to 70 degrees, and the hall thermometer reads 66 degrees. The savvy saver in me does not want to set the thermostat any higher than 70 degrees, and I am quite sure that my husband does not want me to set the thermostat any higher either.

The heat pump makes a pretty loud noise when switching from one form of heat to the other and when turning on and off. Our old air conditioner ran much quieter.

According to weather dot com, the temperature outside is 32 degrees and it feels like 32 degrees outside. Well, to me it feels like I need to hibernate. I am already wearing leggings under my jeans and a heavy sweater over a turtleneck shirt. I pulled out my Holmes ceramic heater, turned it on high, and placed it right beside me as I type this review while the baby sleeps. I'm seriously considering putting on my Swiss Alps ski/snow coveralls next.

I will admit that this Goodman heat pump has saved us money on fuel oil. We used to wait until summer to buy our fuel oil because it was cheaper. Now I don't think there is a cheap time to buy fuel oil. With a 1,000 gallon tank for fuel oil (which we have never, ever completely filled), only those who are purchasing expensive fuels for heating can truly feel our pain, but for now I am feeling the pain of cold joints.

If you live in an area where there are power outages, I recommend that you have a back-up system such as gas logs or a generator, because an electric heat pump will be sitting mighty pretty but not doing anything useful like heating or cooling in a power outage.

Thankfully, our heat pump has not broken down in the two and a half years that we have owned it, but we do have gas logs and hand-powered fans if the dreaded happens. Goodman advertises a 10 year limited warranty on parts.

Another area of interest is for those with indoor allergies. Forced air from a heat pump tends to be cleaner than oil, coal, or wood, so if you have breathing issues indoors, a heat pump would certainly be something to consider.

Update--I forgot to mention the prices (thanks for reminding me, Bob!). You can expect to pay about $2100 to $4500 for a Goodman Heat Pump, depending on the size and model.

My Viewpoint:

If you enjoy feeling cool throughout the year, this Goodman Heat Pump might be a serious consideration. If you are looking to save money on heating bills, than perhaps you should look at this Goodman Heat Pump. If you live in an area where the weather rarely warrants needing heat, than this option might be great. If you like to stay warm and are considering purchasing this heat pump, you may want to purchase some heavy socks, long johns, fleece shirts/hats, a huge comforter, and a space heater to go with it.