Heat and Air ?

Bird · Jun 10, 2006

( Most heatpumps use electric resistance heaters as the backup but I wanted warmer air )

We have a 1999 Rheem "High Efficiency" heat pump with the electric backup (total electric house; no gas lines in this neighborhood) and while the heat pump usually keeps it warm enough, if you kick in that electric heater, you sure wouldn't want any warmer air; it gets really hot. I think the manual calls it a 13.65 SEER.

Bird · Jun 10, 2006

( Most heatpumps use electric resistance heaters as the backup but I wanted warmer air )

We have a 1999 Rheem "High Efficiency" heat pump with the electric backup (total electric house; no gas lines in this neighborhood) and while the heat pump usually keeps it warm enough, if you kick in that electric heater, you sure wouldn't want any warmer air; it gets really hot. I think the manual calls it a 13.65 SEER.

Sigarms · Jun 11, 2006

Re: Heat and Air ? *DELETED* *DELETED*

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Sigarms · Jun 11, 2006

Re: Heat and Air ? *DELETED* *DELETED*

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Bird · Jun 11, 2006

I'm curious about the "programmable thermostats" and how they can save you any money. We have a Robertshaw 9620 digital programmable thermostat. I've read the manual, looks like you can do lots of interesting things with it, but we don't. We have it on manual, one setting, and will probably not touch it until it's time to switch from cooling to heating. I suppose if we both worked and were gone during the day, it might save some money by changing the setting, but since we're retired, here most of the time, or in and out, I don't understand how it can be of any help to us. Am I missing something?

Bird · Jun 11, 2006

I'm curious about the "programmable thermostats" and how they can save you any money. We have a Robertshaw 9620 digital programmable thermostat. I've read the manual, looks like you can do lots of interesting things with it, but we don't. We have it on manual, one setting, and will probably not touch it until it's time to switch from cooling to heating. I suppose if we both worked and were gone during the day, it might save some money by changing the setting, but since we're retired, here most of the time, or in and out, I don't understand how it can be of any help to us. Am I missing something?

Sigarms · Jun 11, 2006

No, you're not missing anything /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But, different "applications, different systems", yes, they can save you money.

Volfandt · Jun 11, 2006

I use the programmable T-stat to maintain separate temps at 4 diferent times of the day in hopes of saving $$$'s. To meet this end I only deviate the temps by 2 degrees max.

In the winter, Monday - Friday the T-stat will gradually start to raise the temp to 70 degrees at 6am and maintain it until 8am at which point it drops back down to 68. It stays at 68 until it starts to gradually raise the temp back up to 70 at 5pm. It remains at 70 until 11pm when it again will drop back down to 68 and stay there until 6am the next morning. Believe it or not, we can feel the diffenrence of just those 2 degrees!
For Saturday & Sunday it rasies to 70 at 6am and stays there until 11pm where it drops to 68 and stays there until 6am the next morning.
The T-stat is an automatic changeover model so we don't have to worry about switching between heat and cooling. I also don't have to make any changes to the T-stat when its in AC mode. Basically, it maintains 72 degrees 24/7 which we find comfortable during the summer.

The T-stat also has a built in and programmable change the filter warning. Mine is set to every 3 months but it's adjustable. Every 3 months a message appears in the T-stats display to change the filter. Once I do I just hit the filter reset button and it clears and resets the timer.

It can be over-ridden at anytime and it will revert to the programmed setting at the set times. If the need arrises to keep the over-ridden temp set past the changeover times then theres a lock button also. When locked the settings won't change until it's unlocked. It can be locked forever I rekon....

Being raised in a home that had a coal furnace w/a stocker that needed attantion every night, i.e. the stoker needed filled and the clinkers cleaned out of the furnace. I almost feel guilty in what I don't have to do to remain comfortable in my home.

I do a type of manual zone control that I'm thinking of automating one of these days. My basement stays much cooler that the rest of the house year round so I manually close all the registers when cooling and open them up when heating.

I also augment my cooling system with a few ceiling fans. This helps to keep 72 livable.

I do like the dual fuel system but it seems that natural gas has risen evey year since I decided to go that route. I'd say when my furnace is running that its costing about the same as those electric resistance heaters cost when they were running in the older system.

Volfandt

Bird · Jun 11, 2006

( we can feel the diffenrence of just those 2 degrees! )

Yep, we sure can. More so, I think, as we've gotten older. Our thermostat is set for 78, and shows to be 78, but actually with a good thermometer, the real temperature in the whole house is 71 plus or minus one. We do have to flip the switch between "heat" and "cool" in the Spring and Fall. So we never change the thermostat. But we have a ceiling fan in the master bedroom and one in the living room and I have a 16" fan on a stand right behind me here at the computer. And the air handler has a monstrous "accordion" type filter that the guy who checked out the system before we bought the place says normally only needs changing about once a year; twice a year in some cases. And since the air handler is in the attic, I go up there and pour about a half to a cup of bleach in the condensation drain once a month.

OKnewguy · Jun 11, 2006

I had another person check out the system, he is going to get me my first quote. He recomended staying with 15 seer and lower. I should get a qoute Tuesday. He is a neigbor down the street who is retired and now does this on the side. The cool thing is he is going to give me a quote for 13 seer heat/air, 15 seer heat/air, and then 13/15 with just air for now. He also is going to price the quotes with me helping him out or helper. So I am curious to see how it pans out.
I love the programable thermostats. I will say that our system is maybe slightly large for the house 3.5 ton on a 2000' house, and it would not run long to make up the temp change. It really works well in the winter, I like it cold at night, and then when you wake up it kicks on a half hour before you wake up and takes the edge off when your blood starts flowing.
Thanks Guys, Dave