My New house and low utility bills

[JackMentink]

whats the size of your units?
i'm in the process of converting a warehouse into a loft style home,and we are using a ground source system.

My unit is a 3ton/6ton two speed water furnace. It is sized correctly for our 4400 square foot very well insulated house. It has two sets of 20KW heat strips but i don't think they have ever come on.

 

[irvingj]

Wow, Jack-- mine's COP is only 3.4, and I still consider that to be pretty good. I've been wondering about current technology, as mine must be getting close to the end of its expected life. What are the brands these days? What would you recommend? I used to be in HVAC, from 78-90, roughly, but have been somewhat out of touch for the past 19 years....

My system was originally planned to be a "pump & dump," but when a sealed loop became available I jumped on it. My well's 375', with a static level of about 85'. We sure do have cold tap water in the winter!

BTW, wife's from up around Kirksville. Sometimes think about retiring to that area (Hurdland)....

 

[RobJ]

Our electric here has a cost of about 6.9 cents a KW.

And there you have a lot of it. I'm locked into a 16.1 cents at the moment and was lucky to get it last summer. I was floating and one month had a 22.5 cents rate! A few low balls now around 11-12, average is still in the 13 cents range. Then add on all the fuel surcharges on top of that.

 

[JackMentink]

Wow, Jack-- mine's COP is only 3.4, and I still consider that to be pretty good. I've been wondering about current technology, as mine must be getting close to the end of its expected life. What are the brands these days? What would you recommend? I used to be in HVAC, from 78-90, roughly, but have been somewhat out of touch for the past 19 years....

My system was originally planned to be a "pump & dump," but when a sealed loop became available I jumped on it. My well's 375', with a static level of about 85'. We sure do have cold tap water in the winter!

BTW, wife's from up around Kirksville. Sometimes think about retiring to that area (Hurdland)....

Mine is a Water Furnace Brand and by what I've seen they are the leader in the industry. I would recommend them if you are going to do a replacement. The other thing I would recommend ids the two speed compresses and the variable speed drive on the blower. It helps it from cycling as much and it really helps the efficiency since the start ups is where you lose alot

I actually live in Rolla which is about 130 south of Kirksville right on I-44

 

[JackMentink]

And there you have a lot of it. I'm locked into a 16.1 cents at the moment and was lucky to get it last summer. I was floating and one month had a 22.5 cents rate! A few low balls now around 11-12, average is still in the 13 cents range. Then add on all the fuel surcharges on top of that.

Actually Rob my electric averages higher than that per KW becuse we pay an up front fee from the utility of $17 per month regardless how much you use. I don't count that because its the same regardless what you use.

If you are looking at a ground source yours would really pay for itself fast with those high electric rates!

 

[RobJ]

Actually Rob my electric averages higher than that per KW becuse we pay an up front fee from the utility of $17 per month regardless how much you use. I don't count that because its the same regardless what you use.

If you are looking at a ground source yours would really pay for itself fast with those high electric rates!

Good idea but I;m not sure how well that would work down here. My Aunt in Montanauses a well system for cooling. But up there they only need it for a couple months. Not sure how they heat they place.