Heat pump, FTL!
01-17-2009, 08:04 AM
#1
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Heat pump, FTL!
Got down to 11 last night according to my weather station...hvac was running all night non-stop, t-stat was set to 64 but was down to 56 this morning at 6...when the power went out for 3 hours. :P
I disconnected the aux heat on purpose, they murder the electric bill when they fire up...I'll deal with the cold house instead. Had to wood-burning stove in the basement going, but it can only crank out so much.
C'mon summer!!
I disconnected the aux heat on purpose, they murder the electric bill when they fire up...I'll deal with the cold house instead. Had to wood-burning stove in the basement going, but it can only crank out so much.
C'mon summer!!
01-17-2009, 09:28 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
The house isn't getting nearly cold enough, even on the perimeters where the pipes are.
2-3 winters ago, during an ice storm and cold snap, we lost power for 4 days/nights. I ran a genset to power the heat pump w/ out the aux heaters (it would overload the gen). The temp on the house t-stat got as low as 49...at the time my IR thermometer showed the most exposed pipes were only as low as 42.
And when I say the suck down the power, I'm talking over a 50% increase in the monthly power bill for just a coupe hours of aux heating. I'm careful about it, don't worry.
If and when the hvac goes up, I'd like to go with an LP furnace and water heater (now elec)...I have an LP range, and the gas company would gladly help out with a larger tank. We'll see.
And when I say the suck down the power, I'm talking over a 50% increase in the monthly power bill for just a coupe hours of aux heating. I'm careful about it, don't worry.
If and when the hvac goes up, I'd like to go with an LP furnace and water heater (now elec)...I have an LP range, and the gas company would gladly help out with a larger tank. We'll see.
01-17-2009, 12:42 PM
#7
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I'm so glad I spent extra for a high efficient gas heat back in '02 when I had my house built..
Everybody was telling me to save the cash and use it for something else instead because gas is so cheap and a high efficient unit is just a waste.
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01-17-2009, 01:14 PM
#8
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I have heat pump in my twnhouse in VA...
Had a new heat pump put in after hurricane Isabel killed the 20+ yr old orig. Had I stayed in that house, I was also gonna put a new high efficiency wood burning stove in the living rm as uber cold weather backup. They put out TONS of heat when it gets too cold for heat pump, and the air handler could circulate the warm around around.
01-18-2009, 07:55 AM
#10
If you had to replace the heat pump you could look into a system like I have. I love it.
It is a heat pump with aux LPG furnace. I can set the temperature (outside air temp) for when it cuts over from heat pump to LP gas. As you know, the efficiency of a heat pump starts to go to **** when you get down near freezing and worse below that.
It's really great because when it is coldest outside we get that nice warm forced air as opposed to the heat pump blowing around what seems like cold air and running constantly.
Of course propane is not cheap, but if you can get a 500 gallon tank buried you can buy in the off season and store.
You could then get yourself a nice LP genset as well.
It's really great because when it is coldest outside we get that nice warm forced air as opposed to the heat pump blowing around what seems like cold air and running constantly.
Of course propane is not cheap, but if you can get a 500 gallon tank buried you can buy in the off season and store.
You could then get yourself a nice LP genset as well.