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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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Jun 4, 2018
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Jun 11, 2018
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Nov 18, 2018
These guys are the best. From start to finish they exceeded my expectations and delivered a great product. They accommodated the nuances of my 100 year old home which was really appreciated. The install was easy to schedule and done fantastically. Im so excited to have an efficiently heated and cooled home.
Aug 12, 2018
Twintech were fast and efficient contractors. It only took 48 hours between an initial home visit and complete installation. The workmen were polite and hardworking. The site was left clean with the old furnace etc. removed. They helped arrange an environmental assessment in order that I could receive the maximum rebate. They even called me within a week to determine if I was satisfied with their work and to reassure me that I could call them anytime I experienced heating difficulties or had any questions. I recommend Twintech for your heating problems.
Jul 21, 2018
Courteous and professional service from initial consultation through to the installation. We highly recommend Twintech for outstanding service in the industry. Competitive pricing, professional and accurate advice, attention to detail, respect for their client's home and cleaning up at the completion of installation.
Jul 12, 2018
Last night was the coldest day of the year so far and I woke up to my house being 54 degrees... I called Twintech at 2:45am and Greg was on site by 3:30am. The furnace required a part and he returned to his shop and came back to my home around 4:15am, furnace up and running by 4:30am. THANK YOU TWINTECH! Your service is second to none.
Jun 25, 2018
After much research & getting 4 quotes, we hired Twintech team for our new furnace installation, prices were fair, they carried great product brands & more importantly installation was expertly done by one of the owners (Greg & his assistant Peter) which gave me an added piece of mind. Dave was very organized & answered all my questions in great detail, especially re: the Enbridge & Govt. rebate program.
Jun 10, 2018
My old air conditioner was 20 years old and developed a Freon leak and it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair. There are a large number of heating and air conditioning companies available in my area so I contacted several for quotes. Twintech heating and cooling responded quickly to the inquiry I left on their website and their sales person Dave came by the following day. He was knowledgeable about the field and was able to show copies of the various refrigeration and gas fitting licenses along with workmens compensation, TSSA and other certifications. He also suggested a particular manufacturer and model of AC unit appropriate to my house and gave me a quote. Since the price was reasonable, service had been good and the reviews on the internet were also good, I decided to purchase an AC unit from them. Installation was quickly scheduled. They showed up on time, did a good job installing the new unit including some sheet metal work to get the new heat exchanger to fit in the furnace duct, and cleaned up afterward. In addition, they noticed that my existing AC was installed too close to the furnace exhaust (based on building code) and were able to mount the new AC the appropriate distance from the exhaust. Overall, they did an excellent job and were a pleasure to work with.
Jun 5, 2018
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