Living in one of the coldest parts of the country I can tell you heat pumps are not what they're cut out to be. My husband installs them but never recommends them. And ours are all inground heat pumps, trenches at least 6 ft deep . And you need a very large property because of the amount of piping required. One advantage is you get your a/c with it but as far as heating a huge house the air just does not blow as hot as electric or gas, most people here have gas unless the lines don't pass where they live. For our part of the country it's the cheapest way to go. Although we do have an electric furnace in the garage to kick in when we want instant heat but we also have a woodstove in the house and in the garage because I like dry heat. They are very cost efficient and not much trouble, being air tight. You can fill it in the morning and it lasts all day.