Heat pumps

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue"> I'm in New England, electric rates here are so high there is no way to heat with electric. </font>

I'm with you on the electricity. We try to use everything but electricity. I cannot help but to think that electricity prices would have to go up eventually as energy prices go up. I would never consider a heat pump at our electricity costs even in our fairly warm climate.

 

[Highbeam]

There is more than one way to use electricity to heat with. The standard forced air resistance heater is the worst, agreed. But the heat pumps pull energy from the air or ground and use the electricity for a compressor like a huge fridge. The efficiency of "electric" heat can not be generalized. I am surprized to see my natural gas heating bill (combined with my electric bill) higher than a coworkers total with a heat pump, power bill. This tells me that the heat pumps aren't to be ignored on the basis of being "electric".

Granted, electricity is cheap here in the Northwet... for now. Electricity is easily made with a variety of fuels and energy sources by the electric companies. Heck, nuclear power ensures the power rates will never get too high. Now oil, natural gas, or firewood costs are not as controlled obviously.

I think the ideal cost effective combination is a pellet stove for primary heat and a central heat pump system for airflow, heating, and cooling in a moderate climate.

 

[kenmac]

Buy a 90+% efficent nat .gas or propane faf.You will keep warm & save money with a 90+.At best a heat pump will work down to 40.There is no way I would tell a customer that a heat pump would heat to 18.He must be talking about with large kw elec. heat strip back up. Heat pump alone to 18? NEVER!
Also consider that your compressor works year round with a heat pump which = shorter compressor life