pandora
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Outland
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·ooma
 ·Comcast
| [OT] Heat Pump vs. Fossil review
Some of you may recall I installed a heat pump instead of just an air conditioner this past summer. Going into the fall, we started to use the heat pump for warmth, thus far it's been able to keep the house very toasty, we have been setting it for 76-77 in the AM and PM and 75 during the day and at night. It has had no trouble, the temperature out of the vents was 117 this AM, it does heat the house quickly.
Supposedly it has integrated automatic defrosters, allowing operation below 32F. However, it begins to become increasingly inefficient below 34-38F (depending on various factors). Our electric bill, remains at about a $100 premium (it just came in) over not running the heat pump. I'd be very happy if the unit can provide reasonable heat through mid-late November.
When it becomes too cold, the unit will begin burning fossil (oil pumped to a radiator). Not sure if anyone was / is curious, but thought it was worth at least a post. If interested I'd probably put up another post around Thanksgiving.
Recapping, exterior walls were upgraded from R9 to R15 with plastic sheets (on the inside over the batts) to slow airflow. Attic was upgraded from spotty mixed R13 / R9 / nothing to full R21 sitting in the 5.5 inch gap over the ceiling joists I've installed secured 3/4 plywood but have not created an airtight seal (1/4-1/2 inch gap between 2' x 4' cut up sections).
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"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." |
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meskinct
This space for rent
Premium
join:2002-01-07
Danbury, CT
clubs:
·Comcast
·magicjack.com
| Mine will defrost every 90 minutes. That's the default. Most of them you can set to 30, 60 or 90. You can also 'force' a defrost by jumping two pins together on the compressor unit itself. I noticed that mine iced up a few times last winter so I messed with the defrost timing. Be warned, a defrost consumes some major juice! I ended up setting it back to 90 minutes and wired up a momentary switch that will jump the two pins together to force a defrost. Now, I can defrost from inside! 
My unit is rated to produce heat down to +9 F and it does pretty well.
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Rich. My Website - ThisIsPico.Com including the SBC Northeast/SNET Status Page and Graphs |
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pandora
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Outland
·Future Nine Corpor..
·ooma
·Comcast
| Mine supposedly has a microprocessor controlled defrost which somehow is supposed to detect frost then begin the cycle. How well or if it works, only time will tell. I don't think I'll be able to manually invoke a defrost however.
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"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | reply to pandora
in new england you should definatly have a fuel fired backup to a heatpump for optimal comfort in the winter.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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pandora
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Outland | I agree 100%. However, the heat pump is permitting me to reduce my fossil consumption. |
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billh491
join:2001-08-09
Pomfret Center, CT
·Metrocast Communic..
| reply to pandora
I have lived in houses with heat pumps the ones in Texas were great but the one I lived with here was not. As stated they only work well in the 20+ range then the backup heat kicks in and that is when you meter really spins. But in your case I would be tempted to run the pump in the spring and fall and use your main heat for cold months of Dec-Feb. as there is no replacement for "real" hot air.
What I mean by real is back when I had the heat pump in my condo say it was 20 outside and I wanted to keep it 70 in the house. If I was lucky the pump was sucking in my 68 degree air from the floor vent and putting out say 95 or 100 degree air. No in theory if you fill a 70 degree room with 100 degree air it will warm up and so it does. But if you are anywhere near the vent it feels cool to you. In fact I use to call it a wind chill heat system.
I was so glad to sell that condo. |
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