Heat pump in hot weather

[mlbussert]

I ask this question just out of curiousity (I alrdy ordered my system, a gas electric package unit):
How effective are heat pumps in hot climates? I understand that they are good for places with relatively mild winters (like Tucson, AZ), but how about for places where summers are pretty extreme (like Tucson, AZ hehehehe).
Again, I am just curious - sometimes I have an active mind (sometimes I don't though hehehehehe).

[airworx]

no bearing, same thing as an airconditioner, but will get slightly better seer ratings than gas or electric.

[Irishmist]

Hope this satisfies your curiosity. A heat pump operates exactly like central air conditioning in the cooling mode. So if a properly sized cooling system would satisfy the cooling load, then a properly sized heat pump would do the same.

[mlbussert]

Do you mean that a heat pump, properly sized, will provide the same amount of cool air, at the same temperature, as a regular air conditioner? Will it cool as fast as a regular AC?

[dash]

Originally posted by John Lloyd
Hope this satisfies your curiosity. A heat pump operates exactly like central air conditioning in the cooling mode. So if a properly sized cooling system would satisfy the cooling load, then a properly sized heat pump would do the same.

Even in Florida we need auxillary heat for a heat pump.So I hope you meant properly sized including aux. heat..

[mlbussert]

Dash,
Do you mean that a heat pump will need help in cold winter days; that is, days below 35-40 degrees, or overnight, when temperatures can drop to the low 20s in Tucson?
Thank you for your time.

[Jultzya]

No difference in performance other than the HP will aid in the process of heating your home.

Temps under 30-40 will normally require a backup source of heat or electric strips to supplement the heat pump.

Savings by use of a heat pump are normally tremendous depending on your utility rates.