Heat Pumps

[missmanors]

There are a lot of mixed messages about the use of heat pumps for the purpose of home heating. Here are some facts about the use and efficiency of heat pumps.

By design, the heat pumps is more efficient than other consumer-grade HVAC product. The heat pump's output decreases in the heating mode as the outdoor temperature falls, making its efficiency quite high. It's recommended that a technician who is familiar with the product caclulate a balance point.

Major HVAC manufacturers offer dual-fuel equipment that can improve overall efficiencies and comfort levels. Since electric heat is 100% efficient, the proper approach would be to calculate the cost of heating by other types of fuel in your area. Your utility company can give you rates as they apply to your area, to help you decide whether gas, oil, or electric heat will be more cost effective for you in your area. A 100,000 btuh furnace running 10 hours uses 1,000,000 btu's. Depending on the area you live in, that 1 million btu's can cost $24 using a propane furnace, $21 with the use of electric heat or heaters, or $8 when using a heat pump with electric backup. Natural gas is the least expensive fossil fuel to use, followed by LPG, and oil being the most expensive.

When the outdoor temperature goes below 38 degrees, a heat pump would use more of the supplemental electric heat, as a heat pump becomes less effective as the temperature outdoors dips below 42 degrees, making it necessary for the supplemental electric heating unit to be used.

Another kind of heat pump is the water source heat pump, instead of the air source heat pump that's discussed above. The water source heat pumps are also called geothermal systems. These are more efficient than air source units and can also provide hot water for a home virtually free. The main disadvantage of these units is the cost of installing them, but there is a quick return on the investment.

If you understand how an air conditioner works, placing heat coils on the outside of the home, and cold coils on the inside of the home, it's easy to understand how a heat pump works. The heat pump reverses the process and has the hot coils placed inside the home and the cold coils outdoors. This enables the unit to change cold air to hot air. So instead of relying on fossil fuels to heat, you are using a heat pump that "moves heat".

The heat pump's process is carried out by using a valve. This valve is in an air conditioner which allows it to switch between heating your home or cooling your home. Switching the valve allows the Freon to flow one way to produce hot air and the other way to produce cold air.

The downfall of a heat pump is when the outside cold coils retain a buildup of ice during the winter months. As a fail-safe measure, the heat pump melts the ice by itself, but it switches the valve to allow the Freon to run in reverse which results in cold air being pumped inside the home. To avoid this, the heat pump warms the air being pumped inside by using special heat strips or burners that are automatically lit by the heat pump. When the ice is melted, the heat pump then switches the valve again to once again pump hot air inside the home, and the heat strips or burners are turned off.

[patricia]

You know i have been apartment shopping lately, and i came across an apartment yesterday that had a "gas and gas" stove for heat? god that has to be one old stove? i haven t seen a gas and gas stove since iwas a kid...are they still legal to use???

[flippinout]

Patricia, could you give me more information on the gas and gas stoves you are talking about. I have never heard of them before.

Do they use two different types of gas? If I have some more info, perhaps I will be better able to answer your question.

[badmomma]

I don't think I like the idea of having cold air pumped into my home during the winter. Doesn't this cause the heat pump to have to run longer. I would think so. I have to guess that would add up to wasted money.

Patricia, I haven't heard of these either. What exactly is a gas and gas heater? Curious to hear what the are and how the work. Thanks.