Thanks, John; all good info. I am considering an air to air heat pump.
We considered geothermal, but the cost would be prohibitive, and our
soil type (hardpan clay) wouldn't work well with a heat exchange coil.
Since the summers and winters are pretty moderate around here I think a
heat pump would work OK. We would keep the propane furnace for
supplemental heat, and I'm aware that the "heat" that they provide in
the winter isn't the same as a regular furnace. Since we have heating
vents in the floor already, it should be alright.
John T. Blair wrote:
> At 10:46 PM 9/20/2008, David C. wrote:
>
> >We're thinking of installing a heat pump in the near/medium term (this
> >year or next). We live in the north Puget Sound area, so it never gets
> >really cold, and the summers are moderate, but July and August can get
> >into the high 80s occasionally....
>
> David,
>
> I live on the south eastern coast of VA where the Atlantic Ocean and the
> Chesapeake Bay meet. Our summers are typically in the high 80s low 90s
> with some 100 thrown in. Winters are usually mild in the low 40s,
> occassionally
> dipping into the 30s and very seldom into the 20s.
>
> Most of the homes built since the mid 70s have heat pumps. I've lived in
> this house since 84 and am on my 3 heat pump. Average life being about
> 12 years.
>
> You didn't go into the types of heat pumps only the SEERS which do go up
> depending on the type. Also within a type there are varying SEERS. The
> most common around here is the air to air unit which is what I have.
> These
> work well in the moderate climates, but when the temps get up to over 90
> for
> a period of time, or below about 45 they can't do good job at heating or
> cooling. Currently when we hit the 100s I can barely pull my house
> below 80,
> and in the winter it can't really heat it. So we have to have
> additional heating
> in the way of electric heating elements in the system. And it gets
> quite costly
> when them come on for a long period of time. Assuming that you have
> adiquate
> ducting one of these units costs about $2,500 to $3000 in our area to have
> the inside and outside units replaced.
>
> Compaired to something like oil or Gas forced hot air, these units feel
> cold
> in the winter. I used to keep my last house about 68-70 in the winter. We
> had oil then gas forced hot air heat. When the heat came on, you felt
> warm!
> The vent temps for heat is about 88 deg, and the unit has to more a lot
> more
> air due to the lower temps (than forced hot air). My house is a ranch
> style
> so the ducting is in the attic and the vents are in the ceiling. In the
> winter
> the ceiling is about 84 deg. but the floor is about 60. Hot air rises.
> :( So
> you're feet will freeze and you'll feel cold.
>
> My house is about 1500 sq ft of heated/cooled space and is all
> electric. On
> the "Budget" payment plan my electric bill runs about $217 a month and we
> are paying about 8 to 9 cents per KWHr for our electricity.
>
> continued.....
>
> John T. Blair WA4OHZ email: jblair1948@cox.net
> Va. Beach, Va
> Phone: (757) 495-8229
>
> 48 TR1800 48 #4 Midget 65 Morgan 4/4 Series V (B1106)
> 75 Bricklin SV1 (#0887) 77 Spitfire 71 Saab Sonett III
> 65 Rambler Classic
>
> Morgan: www.team.net/www/morgan
> Bricklin: www.bricklin.org
>
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