I'm doing a little PSA here based on several customers who I've seen recently have blown electrical circuit boards and other parts for their heat pumps. It seems like many HVAC contractors selling heat pumps are failing to include either a whole house or point of surge power protectors. If you live in an area where there are frequent blackouts, which is pretty much everywhere now, this means that the parts on your heat pump will break creating a costly repair and discomfort! So, my PSA is to always ask for a surge protector to be installed by the contractor when they are giving a quote for a heat pump HVAC.

I couldn't agree more. We had a new heat pump installed without a surge protector and now it has taken over a month for the replacement parts to be available after the heater stopped working likely due to a power surge.
They are inexpensive and easy to install! We have an Intermatic AG3000 surge protector installed at the 220V disconnect now and it took less than an hour to install.