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Heat pump

pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,559 ✭✭✭✭
edited November 2019 in General Discussion
My old heating system a gas pac has bit the dust so it is time for a new system . Do I go back with another gas pac or switch to one of the new heat pumps . Need some advice and pointers . Who has what and are you satisfied with the systems ? Chime in guys and let me know your thoughts !
cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
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Comments

  • RobOzRobOz Member Posts: 9,523 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Where do you live?
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  • serfserf Member Posts: 9,217 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A heat pump with a mini split system is your best choice with a standby electrical heat strip if it falls below 0*f degrees. Be aware you will have multiple coils to clean in your home however instead of duct work.

    serf
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  • BobJudyBobJudy Member Posts: 6,671 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It depends on your location and home size. Judy and I have had a Water Furnace for 20 years. Essentially it is a heat pump that uses the well water as a heat exchange medium. Water gets sucked up and either the heat removed for heating or in the summer used to remove the heat from the coils and then its exhausted into our pond. For those that don't want an open system like ours they have a closed system with a large buried coil of fluid that recirculates. Here in Michigan it works much better when the outside air temp is below freezing as the well water runs at 48 degrees. In the summer using the water to cool the condenser is more efficient as the density of the water removes heat more effectively. Here in Michigan I wouldn't have an air system as the electric backup would run all the time, and that gets expensive. Bob
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pending location is the key on heat pumps. If it is cold below 23 degree or so and the house insulation.. go with the heat pump. They are cheap to operate . Heat strips will kick in if it gets real cold and that is like a total electric heat home. expensive. Our 4 ton heat pump has kicked the strips on maybe 10 times max out of 12 yrs. Just for a few hours of heat till the temp went up. Buy a high eff one with a high seer rating to keep cost even down cheaper. There are online dealers that will ship the whole systems to your door. You will save a bundle doing that if you can get a licensed installer.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On the East Coast, I wouldn't want a heat pump if I were anywhere north of North Carolina. Heat pumps use a lot of electricity, & the expected life of a heat pump is 8-10 years. Plus, a heat pump blows cool air, unlike a gas unit which makes you feel toasty; mama isn't going to be happy with anything that blows cool air.

    I put a split pack unit in my addition 20 years ago, & not a bit of trouble. Plus, comfortable on both heat & cool modes. But, installation may be costly for a retrofit. I hear the newer mini splits are even more efficient that the older ones.

    Neal
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here you go..basic facts. You can go with a split system or a package unit. And the cost..nevermind that. As I said in the earlier thread, Buy the unit yourself. You will save a bundle. And a link to a wholesaler

    https://www.pickhvac.com/faq/furnace-vs-heat-pump-vs-dual-fuel/

    https://www.theacoutlet.com/complete-ac-systems/split-systems/heat-pump.html?central_system_seer=201&p=3
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  • Edspdog1Edspdog1 Member Posts: 225 ✭
    edited November -1
    I build big 2,000,000.00 plus homes, all custom. Heat pump with gas backup is the only way to go. Hint, you already use gas with the gas pack.
    AC in the summer, all but free heat until temp outside drops below say 45 * then the warm toasty gas side kicks in.
    No matter what you use for heat it will take a certain amount of BTU's to warm a BUTT the size of a TUBB.
    AND here in the hills of WNC a heat pump alone is the coldest heat know to man.
    Yep buy it cheap off the net then when she goes kaput in the middle of the night and 0* outside "who you going to call ghostbusters"?
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  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Edspdog1 wrote:
    I build big 2,000,000.00 plus homes, all custom. Heat pump with gas backup is the only way to go. Hint, you already use gas with the gas pack.
    AC in the summer, all but free heat until temp outside drops below say 45 * then the warm toasty gas side kicks in.
    No matter what you use for heat it will take a certain amount of BTU's to warm a BUTT the size of a TUBB.
    AND here in the hills of WNC a heat pump alone is the coldest heat know to man.
    Yep buy it cheap off the net then when she goes kaput in the middle of the night and 0* outside "who you going to call ghostbusters"?
    Yes,....a dual fuel system is hard to beat. That would be my choice if I lived up north.
    Actually I have put a couple of them in here for people that won't have anything else.
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
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  • jarjar Member Posts: 620 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I live in mid missouri and in 2004 we built a 2600 sq ft semi earth contact. at that time i decided to go all electric. thus a heat pump with electric heat strip backup. its the only thing about my house I would change! it is enough of a pain I put in a woodstove and we dont let the furnace go into backup heat. when those heat strips light up the damn pole light in the front yard dims a lil. in 2006 my brother built a simular size house with a heat pump with propane gas backup. in my opinion that would be the only way to go.
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  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,285 ******
    edited November -1
    I have a split system. A Fiskars x27 splitting axe and a Troybilt 27 ton hydraulic wood splitter.
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  • Edspdog1Edspdog1 Member Posts: 225 ✭
    edited November -1
    I use a gas fired boiler with baseboard heat, propane up until about mid November the the ole outside wood boiler gets fired up, switch a couple valves
    and load boiler twice a day. Bobcat moves the logs, me and Stihl cut them into chunks, and Timber Wolf splits them up with a little help. Anyone that says burning wood for heat save money must be out of their mind, it ain't cheap.
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A year ago we replaced a 30 year old heat pump. With a heat pump. We are in central VA- your location is going to be a major factor. 3 bedroom rancher w/ full basement.

    Our electric bill has dropped by half. Really. Unlike our old unit. when on heat cycle air is not cold. House is comfortable. Change filters 3 times a year (HEPA filters) The heating side works at a lower temp than our old unit.

    If I were in an area that gets really cold, would look at heat pump w/ gas backup. But frankly, we are tickled with this one. Bought it thru Lowes, and yes, got their 10% military discount.
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  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Heat pump, gas or electric back up as noted depends on winter average temps.

    Heat pump is a 3/1 coefficient of performance versus 1/1 for electric heat.

    Be careful with buying SEER for the sake of a higher number.

    Can get expensive but if you have the water source a water source heat pump will not only be way more economical but will also work when it gets colder outside.
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
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  • neacpaneacpa Member Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    House we had before this one (4 years ago) was natural gas heat. This home was heat pump with heat strip backup. To me, there is a difference between electric heat and gas heat. Main floor unit was 13 years old. Summer of 18, I decided I wanted propane backup (can't get natural as at this location) so I replaced that unit with an 18 seer 5 ton Trane heat pump with propane backup. We had a propane fireplace already with a 500 gallon tank. Cost me about $500 to run larger gas line in house (building code issue) and to attic for new unit. Am happy with results. My summer cooling bills also went down quite a bit.
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Edspdog1 wrote:
    I build big 2,000,000.00 plus homes, all custom. Heat pump with gas backup is the only way to go. Hint, you already use gas with the gas pack.
    AC in the summer, all but free heat until temp outside drops below say 45 * then the warm toasty gas side kicks in.
    No matter what you use for heat it will take a certain amount of BTU's to warm a BUTT the size of a TUBB.
    AND here in the hills of WNC a heat pump alone is the coldest heat know to man.
    Yep buy it cheap off the net then when she goes kaput in the middle of the night and 0* outside "who you going to call ghostbusters"?

    Had the same noise told to me off of a local contractor who was installing a new system for my neighbor. Even said I had to be licensed to buy off the net. Nonsense. He wanted 13k to install ducting and a new heat pump..package unit. A simple package unit. Drop and go. So I had my service AC/ heat man duct the home and I purchased the same Goodman unit and had it hooked up on the rental. I saved over 5 K. And yes the warranty card was sent in.
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  • serfserf Member Posts: 9,217 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    select-fire wrote:
    Edspdog1 wrote:
    I build big 2,000,000.00 plus homes, all custom. Heat pump with gas backup is the only way to go. Hint, you already use gas with the gas pack.
    AC in the summer, all but free heat until temp outside drops below say 45 * then the warm toasty gas side kicks in.
    No matter what you use for heat it will take a certain amount of BTU's to warm a BUTT the size of a TUBB.
    AND here in the hills of WNC a heat pump alone is the coldest heat know to man.
    Yep buy it cheap off the net then when she goes kaput in the middle of the night and 0* outside "who you going to call ghostbusters"?

    Had the same noise told to me off of a local contractor who was installing a new system for my neighbor. Even said I had to be licensed to buy off the net. Nonsense. He wanted 13k to install ducting and a new heat pump..package unit. A simple package unit. Drop and go. So I had my service AC/ heat man duct the home and I purchased the same Goodman unit and had it hooked up on the rental. I saved over 5 K. And yes the warranty card was sent in.

    Most HVAC installers are way expensive and with Mini splits heat pumps you can by pass their rip off prices and install yourself and save a bundle.They come preloaded with refrigerant. All you need is a vacuum pump with correct high pressure hose unit. Flares on copper tubes must be original from factory or you're going to need 37* flare tool however to have effective seals on unit.

    serf
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  • pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,559 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    looks like we are going to go with a heat pump . getting prices together for cost ,install etc .will be buying it thru a hvac company that my buddy works for . Yes i get a full warranty and support . His boss [owner of the company ] is letting him ,my friend,do it as a side job. looks like i will be saving big bucks.
    cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
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  • Edspdog1Edspdog1 Member Posts: 225 ✭
    edited November -1
    serf. What do you do to make a living if I may ask?
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  • serfserf Member Posts: 9,217 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Edspdog1 wrote:
    serf. What do you do to make a living if I may ask?

    A Stationary Engineer, retired. You had three types of steam boilers engineers. Locomotive back in the day, Marine for Ships and one that stays still for factories or buildings.

    serf
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  • Edspdog1Edspdog1 Member Posts: 225 ✭
    edited November -1
    Might be that you don't know what it cost to run a business, Workman's comp 20 cents of every dollar paid out to employee, 8 percent for Social security and medicare, federal and state unemployment, and on and on. Have to charge customer 45% of total labor bill to cover overhead and you accuse a business of overpricing their service. Be careful you might need some of the rip off artist help some day.
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