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Unique heat pump situation, insight appreciated

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Unique heat pump situation, insight appreciated

Posted On: September 25, 2023

Unique heat pump situation, insight appreciated

I live in a duplex from 1886.


I own it, and live in the second and third levels.


The second level has forced air.


Since the air was added, it has been renovated, and it leaves the majority of duct work in stupid spots.


We also do not have enough ducts to reasonably heat the house.


The system blows almost non stop during the winter, and the house stays cool.


We also have a very inefficient 90s central air unit that can't keep up with cooling at all.


The third floor of our house was created about 20 years ago.


It is run off electric baseboard heat and window AC units.


My bedroom takes hours to cool, as we don't have a suitable window so the previous homeowner made a box to fit the AC into the wall and to blow the exhaust outside.


Finally, the basement is halfway exposed, and while it stays cool in summer it is cold in winter.


The house was clearly designed for wood burning stoves to pump out tons of heat and that's it.


Anyway, I have been looking at quotes to redo this with heat pumps.


The thought right now is to split the house into two, replacing half the rooms and the furnace this year, and then doing the other half next year.


I had one quote that I liked, except when I asked the installer about replacing the gas furnace with a heat pump coil and a heating element for really cold days, he said that was a bad idea because it would cost us way more to run the system in the winter.


I figure it wouldn't be that nuts, and I'm willing to pay a bunch more to get heat where it makes sense.


Oh, and the last oddity, the furnace exhaust is screwed, and it will be the last natural gas thing I have, so if I don't replace it with natural gas, I will save $4k on chimney repairs to exhaust it there, and the natural gas connection fees from the power company all year.


In the last few years, we've only had a few days that would be cold enough to need the backup heat for, and if that happens, that's fine.


Otherwise, we'd be mostly on heat pump, and saving on our rooms that would have the baseboard heat as backups.


With that all.


Is this crazy? Am I looking at bills hundreds of dollars more expensive in winter? Final thing to add - our house is well insulated and has new windows.


I think it's worth it from the standpoint of comfort and the new system will balance costs of the second floor being a bit higher but the third being lower cost to heat, but if I switch and it isn't or I find we're spending hundreds more a year in heating, either way we won't be too happy.


Any insight would be hugely appreciated.


I've been wrestling with this for a month now.


Question from user RevolutionaryAd9302 at heatpumps at reddit.


It sounds like you're facing some unique challenges with heating and cooling in your historic duplex, and your desire to upgrade to heat pumps is a reasonable consideration.


Let's break down some of the key points you mentioned:


Inefficient Ductwork: If your current forced air system has inefficient ductwork and doesn't adequately heat your home, replacing it with a heat pump system can be a good idea.


Heat pumps are highly efficient and can provide both heating and cooling.


High Heating Bills: Your concern about higher winter heating bills with a heat pump system is valid, especially in very cold climates.


Heat pumps are most efficient in moderate climates and may require a backup heating source (like electric heating elements) when temperatures drop significantly.


However, advancements in heat pump technology, including variable-speed compressors and improved insulation, have made them more efficient in colder climates.


Heat Pump with Electric Heating Element: Using a heat pump with a heating element as a backup is a common setup.


It can provide efficient heating most of the time and switch to the heating element during extreme cold.


The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this setup will depend on your climate, the heat pump's performance, and the cost of electricity compared to natural gas.


Reducing Natural Gas Costs: If you're looking to reduce your reliance on natural gas and save on chimney repairs and connection fees, transitioning to an electric heat pump can be a viable option.


However, you should calculate the potential cost savings and compare them to the cost of electricity in your area.


Well-Insulated House with New Windows: Your well-insulated home with new windows is a significant advantage.


It means your heat pump system will work more efficiently, as it won't have to compensate for heat loss through drafts and poor insulation.


Zoning: When upgrading to a heat pump system, consider zoning your home.


This allows you to control the heating and cooling of different areas independently, optimizing comfort and energy efficiency.


Professional Assessment: It's crucial to have a professional HVAC technician assess your specific situation.


They can perform a heat load calculation to determine the right-sized system for your home and provide you with more accurate cost estimates.


Answer from user at heatpumps at reddit.



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by Harry in Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Ever since I turned on my furnace on Oct 2018 I hear a humming sound when the furnace fan kicks in. I called Adamson Air System who installed my furnace 7 years ago and couldn't figure it out the problem. I just wasted money to the guy who couldn't figure it out. I found Twin Tech via Amana / Goodman website. I checked the reviews from previous Twin Tech customers. I called Greg and was onsite on time this morning Sunday, Nov 25 2018. He figured it out what's wrong with the furnace and explained what the previous installer (adamson air system) did wrong when they installed it. His knowledgeable about his job. He recommend to replace the fun motor because the sound is not normal when it's running. Looking forward to see him again to replace the fan motor.

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Our house is over 22 years old and I had been researching furnaces and A/C brands for a while and thought it was time to take the plunge. After calling three different companies to come in and quote the job, this one won me over. From the first visit from Dave all the way to the end of the install by Greg, Grant, and Piotr, I was glad to have picked this company. Dave was very knowledgeable and really took the time to explain what kind of quality installation I was going to get as well as showing me some of their previous work and certificates.

I was also surprised at how quick the installation took and how nice everything looked afterward, I mean it's only a furnace right? They even re positioned the furnace so that I have easier access to my filter and humidistat, awesome! If you are looking for a company that cares about their customers and is proud about the quality of work they do, along with a great and competitive price, then stop right here because you found it.

by Louis in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Once our AC Unit started to fail, I called our past Heating & Cooling provider for support. The response was we needed a new motor for our Furnace. It was time to check their Quote against the marketplace, I reached to other providers online. One of the owner of Twintech (Greg), called me and offered a preliminary Quote and recommendation online. The others needed to set an appointment and came to measure and spend 1 hour before offering a quote. Then I asked Twintech to come finalize their quote to make sure their recommendation was aligned and met our needs.

Twintech was professional throughout the process, easy to deal with (Web, Phone and in Person), price right and met their commitment. Their team expedited the process and installation, arranged for a energy assessment for available rebates and most importantly, delivered on their commitment and managed to do a few extras. They installed a New Furnace, AC unit and Nest thermostat in a day, remove all older units, left the house and outdoors clean and without any debris. Great to be able to support a Local Company, Neighbour and Professional team - Well Done Team Twintech !!!

by Elizabeth and John L from Scarborough on Twintech Heating and Cooling

In October 2018, I contacted Greg at Twintech to do a furnace cleaning. Greg discovered that my furnace, installed in 2006 by another company, had been installed incorrectly, leading to restricted air flow. The heat exchanger was also defective. As well, my furnace was too large for the size of my house.

In my opinion, the biggest concern most of us have as consumers is that we have no idea of the quality or knowledge and experience of the technicians any heating and cooling company will send into our homes. I could have avoided having my 2006 furnace installed improperly (leading to early replacement), had I known about Twintech then.

With Twintech you get it all. Because Twintech is a smaller company you can rest assured that the only technicians who will work in your home are Greg and his twin brother Grant who are co-owners and fully licensed and certified with over 30 years of experience in installing and servicing heating and cooling equipment. They are both friendly and personable and answer all your questions. Their workmanship is outstanding. We had a 2 stage, variable speed Goodman furnace installed. My wife and I noticed a difference in the heating and even temperature of our 2 storey home almost immediately. Our old furnace always heated too much on the main floor and too little upstairs. We are also impressed with how quiet the furnace is.

Twintech's office manager, David Gergley, is equally friendly and not only gave us a competitive quote to replace our furnace (we sought other quotes), but also went above and beyond my expectations when he made arrangements with an energy audit company so that we would be considered for a grant from Enbridge and IESO.

Needless to say, I give Twintech a 10 out of 10 and highly recommend them!

by James, Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Clean, Fast and Efficient Work. Between all the quotes I received Twintech was a few dollars less and offered the best warranty.

by garysumnec360, Whitby on Twintech Heating and Cooling

They did an excellent job. Everything was very well explained. At the end of the job everything was very well cleaned up.

by Glade, Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Twintech offered me a competitive price but more importantly great sales and installation service. They did everything with attention to detail and quality workmanship that is hard to find in this day and age. Dave who first game to visit me answered most of my questions and probed about my needs. For the technical/install questions he was unable to answer he quickly had Greg and Grant the owners answer for me. They did not cut corners on the installation or do anything to simply save time. They stayed into the early evening to complete the job and removed all my old components and even fixed up mistakes other workers ahd made in the past. I would highly recommend them and use them again if the need arises in the future. If you are looking for service or new equipment I would highly recommend Twintech be on your list of Heating companies to get a quote from and ask your questions to.

by Anne of Major Oaks in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

The company epitomizes high quality service: from the initial client interaction with Dave to the installation and follow up with the technical team. One of the key features I look for is the ability of a technical person to talk to and not talk down to the customer when responding to questions and I had quite a few, all of which were very professionally addressed. I was also quite impressed with the follow up service, promptness, the obvious competence of the team who left no stone un-turned to ensure I was a satisfied customer. Thank you guys.

by Aileen Johnson in Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

All staff concerned were total professionals. Sales rep Dave was like having an old friend at your house. No up selling or pressure, just good honest facts and figures. The owners and assistant who installed our unit worked quietly, efficiently and left our home clean. We could not have been happier with the service and attention we were given. We are so happy a family member recommended Twintech. She said "don't call anyone else, just call them...they are amazing". And they were!!! Thank you guys for the great work!!! A. Johnson

by Lynsey from Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We are completing a large project adding an addition on to our house and couldn’t be more pleased with our decision to trust Twintech with our hvac work. They removed and replaced the furnace, installed a new A/C unit, swapped our tank water heater for a tankless unit, and completed ducting and new A/C lines through the addition. Without hesitation we would recommend Twintech to anyone.

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by Robert Rogers on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.

by Robert Mizuno on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!

by Ruth on Twintech Heating and Cooling

TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!

by Anna Chin on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Amazing experience with TwinTech Heating & Cooling! Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and efficient from start to finish. They installed my new furnace quickly and left everything spotless. The technicians took the time to explain everything and made sure I was comfortable with the system before they left. Great customer service and fair pricing. I highly recommend them for anyone needing HVAC services!

by Connor Agnew on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Great experience all around. Bob was sharp and easy to talk to, and Greg handled the installation perfectly. Would hire them again in a heartbeat.

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