It was not until the fifth time I called the same HVAC company without the call going through that I searched for another heating business that had good reviews and was not based too far away. They picked up the call on the second ring, which pleased me to no end because of what I had previously gone through. They had done HVAC maintenance for me for the past five years, but since I could not get through to them, I had no choice but to look for another alternative. The first order of business was to talk to them and learn more about heating, significantly if I could upgrade from a simple furnace to a heat pump with my tight budget. When I spoke to them, they said they would send an HVAC technician to look at the current HVAC system. They needed to ensure that the ductwork was in good condition and any other part we would use with the new HVAC equipment. He would give me an accurate assessment, including how much it would cost for the installation process. I had already replaced the dial thermostat with a digital one since it was among the energy-saving tips that the HVAC repairman who did the last furnace/heater repair on my system gave me. I also had an alternative; if that proved too difficult, there was still room for improvement regarding helping with indoor comfort during winter. There are so many ways to get quality heating, so I was not worried. The good news was that my tight budget could accommodate the upgrade. The other thing I needed to remember was that regular heat pump service was a must, so I constantly checked the furnace filter to see if it needed replacement.