All electric house and a generator

[Wakey]

Well I don't have access to natural gas. I guess I'm trying to figure out if I should entertain a propane heat pump or go electric and rely on a generator (diesel or propane) to power it during an outage. As I said before, I'll use propane for the stove, tankless water heater and gas logs.

I won't have my house plans for another month so I'm hesitant to contact anyone without being able to provide them specifics.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I also heat with wood, (central heat) we LOVE the "feel" of wood heat... It absolutely is our first choice!

I also have propane back up...

SR

 

[grsthegreat]

Wood burning fireplaces are purely decorative, and have no heating function. Quite the opposite, they suck warmed air up the chimney and will substantially increase your heating bill. Glass fireplace doors will reduce heat loss, but you still won't get much heat out of a fireplace, if any. A fireplace insert will help a lot. All modern heating appliances have an external cold air intake to provide unheated combustion air. Don't blame the heat pump for a poorly designed house. You are fortunate to have natural gas available. Most rural homes do not. Thanks to the fracking boom, natural gas remains the cheapest possible way to heat a home.

What are you talking about. My wood fireplace heats us out of the house if i dont control its burn. I can shut off the furnace and the fireplace will keep the house warm all winter. I know of many people whos sole source of heat is wood fireplace... And this is in pacific northwest in winter. As for the house, all 6" walls and double pained glass. R40 ceiling. Its the opposite of pourly designed. I really hate when someone just blindly states a fact when they have no idea what there talking about. A heat pump might work great in texas or calif, but not in area where average night time winter temps might be 20f.

 

[houstonscott]

What are you talking about. My wood fireplace heats us out of the house if i dont control its burn. I can shut off the furnace and the fireplace will keep the house warm all winter. I know of many people whos sole source of heat is wood fireplace... And this is in pacific northwest in winter. As for the house, all 6" walls and double pained glass. R40 ceiling. Its the opposite of pourly designed. I really hate when someone just blindly states a fact when they have no idea what there talking about. A heat pump might work great in texas or calif, but not in area where average night time winter temps might be 20f.

Yeah have lots of experience with heat pumps here in Texas, hear pumps for winter are fine with low temperatures to about 40, below that you are into emergency heat, electric strips that suck energy fast. When I lived in Houston where I had heat pump and gas, I would in winter put system on emergency heat where it defaulted to gas heat, it was cheap. I'm stuck now with all electric, heat pump is every efficient in summer, but winter can get pricy. Adding solar has put a big cut in electric use in winter, and was a great move. Hybrid water heaters are really nice in reducing electric use. HS

 

[ultrarunner]

I've had the same complaints in Washington with my heat pump from just about everyone accustomed to forced air furnaces...

As to wood efficiency... really simple to boost by using outside air for combustion with many wood stoves...

I have an insert that uses the ash pit door for outside combustion...

It is not wood heat but an open chimney that reduces efficiency...

 

[Larry Caldwell]

What are you talking about. My wood fireplace heats us out of the house if i dont control its burn. I can shut off the furnace and the fireplace will keep the house warm all winter. I know of many people whos sole source of heat is wood fireplace... And this is in pacific northwest in winter. As for the house, all 6" walls and double pained glass. R40 ceiling. Its the opposite of pourly designed. I really hate when someone just blindly states a fact when they have no idea what there talking about. A heat pump might work great in texas or calif, but not in area where average night time winter temps might be 20f.

<shrug> You were the one who claimed your fireplace wouldn't heat your house.