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Unique heat pump situation, insight appreciated
Posted On: September 25, 2023
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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Thank you, Twintech. They installed an A/C in my home in the middle of a heat wave which we appreciated very much. I found the team good, not overly friendly, other than the brothers. Dave, the salesperson was awesome, and, it's because of him that I was sold on using Twintech. I had other questions about additional work I am curious about and would have liked them to follow up and provide a quote. Other than that, which ultimately is not related to the great work they did, I would definitely recommend them, although I don't believe they go outside of Durham (check with them).
Aug 4, 2018
We have used this company a few times so I can't remember exactly what we paid but I do know that their fees are always very reasonable.
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Jul 19, 2018
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Apr 30, 2018
After 18 years my Air conditioner died in the middle of a heat wave. I entered my information on Home Stars and within the hour Dave from Twin Tech responded and offered to meet me as soon as possible depending on my availability. Dave was very knowledgeable about the products Twin Tech offered and even though this was the first quote I received . I felt very comfortable in giving Twin Tech my business. maybe it was the professional approach. Needless to say that the crew with Greg and Grant arrived promptly at the time they committed to were very professional and within a few hours had the place cool. They cleaned up and one would never know that I had work done . I know that the System is new and I probably wont need to worry about it for some time. However with the professionalism displayed by the crew I feel assured that should I need to call for service Twin Tech will respond. I also know that should I need a new Heating system I will go with Twin Tech. Keep up the good work.
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Greg and team were amazing! All interaction via email and text 100% professional. From consult to product recommendation their service was phenomenal!
Installed a Napoleon furnace (ecm dc drive variable 2-stage) and it was a game changer for the whole house. Blended air temperature through and through the entire house and its saving us money by cutting down our utility bill by ALOT!
Jun 18, 2018
We purchased a new cooling & heating system from Twintech and the team was fantastic. From sales to installation, the team were great to work with. Friendly (our dog even enjoyed having them over), professional and accommodating. Id recommend Twintech in a heart beat to anyone. Superb customer service.
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