Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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david_42 wrote:Doesn't sound like the OP has a heatpump, but the one in my house will keep it warm down to 12F without the backup heaters kicking in. The only time the backups are on is for the defrosting cycle every couple days. Most people who don't like heat pumps are unhappy because the air is warm (85-90F), not hot. I keep the house at 62F and 85F is fine.
pnichols - I have a Rheem 2-ton and it is so efficient that when the electrician came out to wire it, he refused to believe it only required a 20 amp 240 volt circuit. He was used to them being 30-40 amps.
I personally don't consider 62 to be an adequate heating temperature for old feeble bones.
bumpy
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5erTrailerTrash
Anchorage, Alaska
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Joined: 07/18/2006
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The heat pump in our home in Oklahoma worked pretty well both summer and winter, although it did run a lot during the winter. We currently live in Alaska and heat pumps are not to be seen!
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Johno02
Lexington, TN USA
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Joined: 10/15/2004
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Our first heat pump was installed as part of the TVA heat pump progran a good number of years ago. At that time,
A engineer came in, measured our house, determined the amount of heat ad cooling required for the entire house, by room. Then he designed the system to provide that amount of heating and cooling. They specified that supply and return ducts be sized to provide the required amount of air, and BOTH were insulated. WE asked why insulate the return air ducts, ans any heat or cooling loss still went into the total for the house. Their design was at that time, was that the proper design required no or very little heat loss or gain from the returns. Don't know who was right or wrong, but it lowered our heating and cooling bills by almost half.
Noel and Betty Johnson
'99 Hurricane 2007 HHR 1 wife, 2 1/2 dogs
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Johno02 wrote:snip Don't know who was right or wrong, but it lowered our heating and cooling bills by almost half.
what was your heating system prior to that? if electric resistive heating, I can believe 1/2, if natural gas, I don't think so.
bumpy
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Johno02
Lexington, TN USA
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Right. As you probably know, many houses in the south did not have much insulation, and resistance heaters in the walls were very popular. Ours was an outside AC, with elictric strip heaters. Tva found that they could reduce usage, and defer the need for additional generating power by installing better insulation and heating. For us, it was free. Work and equipment was paid for with a intrest-free loan from TVA, then repaid monthly on our power bill. The payment was always much less than the savings, so it was basically free for us. BTW, the new unit also had aulixary, high performance staged electric strips.
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