I used to buy cheap appliances and electronics whenever possible. After years of failing equipment, I realized that spending more on certain items guarantees a better product. There will always be exceptions to this rule, but generally speaking you tend to get what you pay for with machines of any kind. It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping for a laptop or a refrigerator, the same rule applies. When I finally bought a good computer for a change, it lasted for years without slowing down or crashing at random moments like my old one. I quickly realized that applying the same mindset to other purchases—especially large ones—would give me tools and machines that last for years to come. So when I was ready to replace my old air conditioner, I spent a lot of time researching the market. I learned about the importance of SEER values and how they let you know how energy efficient a machine will be before trying it out. I also researched heat pumps after getting a recommendation from a coworker. I loved the idea of cooling a house simply by removing the heat instead of trying to slowly chill the air like a large refrigerator. I’ve had my heat pump for 10 years now and haven’t needed a single repair. I’ll admit that the heat pump wasn’t cheap to install, but the savings on my energy bill paid for the upfront costs after only two years of steady use. I can’t imagine using anything else to cool my house but a heat pump. Since I don’t get cold winters here, I don’t need a supplemental heating system of any kind.