copperhead1967
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
- Messages
- 219
- Location
- greensburg PA
- Tractor
- kubota BX22, Cub ZForce S 48 inch deck
My 23 year old heatpump is done. The 23 YO oil fired furnace is OK but I'm am looking at replacing both this spring. The blower in the furnace runs alot with the heatpump and the advantages of a 2 stage blower would be beneficial.The heatpump will not hold freon and with its age I think all the copper in the system is pin holed and shot. I researched some and a entry level Oil furnace would add about $1500 to the package cost. My current system was set at 40 deg for the break over to the oil furnace. Most are set to 30 or even 25 deg now. I really hate using any oil, even the small amount I consume. Plus I could get rid of the outside tank.
Natural Gas is not available in my area.
My house is single story 24 X62 with a 12 x 16 addition, lets say 1800 sq feet, over a crawlspace. I have a wood stove and burn about 4-6 cords of wood per winter. More towards 6 this year since I burned more wood in the 40 to 60 degree range with the heat pump on the fritz last fall and this spring. I use no more than 100 gal of oil mostly as back up when away long enough to let the wood stove burn down. I set the system to 60 in the winter just so it will kick on to keep the house somewhat warm. Then fire up the woodstove when I come home.
With this info could I even think of eliminating the Oil furnace all together and going with a Heatpump and back up electric coils? I would still get the new air handler and 2 stage blower. Most calculations say electric backup stips are not efficient in my climate BUT they don't take in the woodstove usage.
Some other things to consider.
What if we go away for the weekend and the outside temp is below the heatpump set point? Running on back up stips the whole time may get expensive. I could turn heat down to say 50 deg. when gone for a few days.
My age, at 45 I can still cut and slip wood off my 9 acre lot but see a day when I'll not be able to do that anymore. I'm actually looking at a logtruck load this year $600 because I'm short on time to gather the wood off my property. I'll still cut and split it. I see a pellet stove in the future, 10 years or so.
Electric is supposed to go up, currently at 5.39 KW without added fees. current bill runs around $180 month year round. But oil has gone up 400% in the 12 years I've owned this house.
The house is 1980s build and not to well insulated, I plan on adding to the attic insulation when done with the HVAC work.
Resale price of home without a traditional furnace set up?
Thoughts or suggestions??
Natural Gas is not available in my area.
My house is single story 24 X62 with a 12 x 16 addition, lets say 1800 sq feet, over a crawlspace. I have a wood stove and burn about 4-6 cords of wood per winter. More towards 6 this year since I burned more wood in the 40 to 60 degree range with the heat pump on the fritz last fall and this spring. I use no more than 100 gal of oil mostly as back up when away long enough to let the wood stove burn down. I set the system to 60 in the winter just so it will kick on to keep the house somewhat warm. Then fire up the woodstove when I come home.
With this info could I even think of eliminating the Oil furnace all together and going with a Heatpump and back up electric coils? I would still get the new air handler and 2 stage blower. Most calculations say electric backup stips are not efficient in my climate BUT they don't take in the woodstove usage.
Some other things to consider.
What if we go away for the weekend and the outside temp is below the heatpump set point? Running on back up stips the whole time may get expensive. I could turn heat down to say 50 deg. when gone for a few days.
My age, at 45 I can still cut and slip wood off my 9 acre lot but see a day when I'll not be able to do that anymore. I'm actually looking at a logtruck load this year $600 because I'm short on time to gather the wood off my property. I'll still cut and split it. I see a pellet stove in the future, 10 years or so.
Electric is supposed to go up, currently at 5.39 KW without added fees. current bill runs around $180 month year round. But oil has gone up 400% in the 12 years I've owned this house.
The house is 1980s build and not to well insulated, I plan on adding to the attic insulation when done with the HVAC work.
Resale price of home without a traditional furnace set up?
Thoughts or suggestions??
. Plus the geothermal preheats my hot water.