Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - New here...Heat Pump question
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bigginz3223
02-17-09, 02:30 PM
My energy bill has been rediculous and i just bought this home.Ive already made some changes to help. But I saw that if i have a heat pump that it would save versus just using and electric furnace. How do i know if i have a heat pump? I have a central air unit.Is that the heat pump also? If so when i checked the line from it, it was cold and not warm like i heard it was suppose to be. Does this mean it is broken? The unit is new. The seer rating is horrible thought....13....Thanks to anyone who can help.....
wirenut1110
02-17-09, 03:47 PM
Does the outdoor unit come on when it's in the heat mode on the tstat? If yes, then you probably have a HP.
Where do you live? (one reason why it's important to fill in your location)
Heat pumps are good only when the outdoor temp is ~40 and above, so depending where you live, you may just be running your auxiliary heat(which usually is electric strip heat) in the 10-15KW range.
Where do you live? (one reason why it's important to fill in your location)
Heat pumps are good only when the outdoor temp is ~40 and above, so depending where you live, you may just be running your auxiliary heat(which usually is electric strip heat) in the 10-15KW range.
dac122
02-18-09, 06:40 AM
There really is no tell-tale sign from the outside if you have an HP, other than its relatively larger size than a dedicated A/C unit of the same tonnage.
As a simple test I would follow the idea just provided. Since this is a new house it might be worth the money to have a pro come over and check the system from stem to stern, and give you a full report on what you have and its condition.
13 SEER is not so bad. I must disagree - an HP can perform well below 40F.
As a simple test I would follow the idea just provided. Since this is a new house it might be worth the money to have a pro come over and check the system from stem to stern, and give you a full report on what you have and its condition.
13 SEER is not so bad. I must disagree - an HP can perform well below 40F.
badtlc
02-18-09, 12:14 PM
....
Heat pumps are good only when the outdoor temp is ~40 and above, so depending where you live, you may just be running your auxiliary heat(which usually is electric strip heat) in the 10-15KW range.
That statement might have been true 20+ years ago. My heat pump carries my house temps all by itself all the way down to 15 degrees outside temperature.
Heat pumps are good only when the outdoor temp is ~40 and above, so depending where you live, you may just be running your auxiliary heat(which usually is electric strip heat) in the 10-15KW range.
That statement might have been true 20+ years ago. My heat pump carries my house temps all by itself all the way down to 15 degrees outside temperature.
dun11
02-18-09, 05:51 PM
My energy bill has been rediculous and i just bought this home.Ive already made some changes to help. But I saw that if i have a heat pump that it would save versus just using and electric furnace. How do i know if i have a heat pump? I have a central air unit.Is that the heat pump also? If so when i checked the line from it, it was cold and not warm like i heard it was suppose to be. Does this mean it is broken? The unit is new. The seer rating is horrible thought....13....Thanks to anyone who can help.....
You bought a home and have no idea what your heating system is ?:wall:
Call your realator and ask them, or , wait for a gas bill, or, wait to run out of oil or propane, or, pay a high elec bill. either way you should be able to figure it outBeer 4U2
You bought a home and have no idea what your heating system is ?:wall:
Call your realator and ask them, or , wait for a gas bill, or, wait to run out of oil or propane, or, pay a high elec bill. either way you should be able to figure it outBeer 4U2
bigginz3223
02-19-09, 08:22 AM
Yes i bought the home without knowing there was a heat pump.Up until yesterday i didnt even know there was such a thing as a heat pump.I thought it was all from the furnace.....Im not very handy when it comes to major things.....lol....Hense why im on here....lol....So a heat pump runs off propane or oil? I see no sign of anywhere to put this inside the unit.
Gunguy45
02-19-09, 08:45 AM
There may be such a thing as a propane heat pump..lol...they have propane refrigerators.
No, your heat pump runs off electricity...some may have a fuel (Propane, Nat Gas, oil) backup heat source.. but most have electric heating strips as was mentioned. If those are kicking on a lot..then yes, your electric usage will go way up as will your bills.
I was running a small electric heater about 4 hrs a day in my garage in Dec/Jan stopped in Jan/Feb when I got a gas space heater. My electric dropped $40 (15-20%) even though Jan Feb has been colder.
Turn your heat down as low as you can and don't use any backset (lower at night or when you are away) with a heatpump. That can cause more usage of the backup heat as it tries to warm up when you turn up the thermostat .
No, your heat pump runs off electricity...some may have a fuel (Propane, Nat Gas, oil) backup heat source.. but most have electric heating strips as was mentioned. If those are kicking on a lot..then yes, your electric usage will go way up as will your bills.
I was running a small electric heater about 4 hrs a day in my garage in Dec/Jan stopped in Jan/Feb when I got a gas space heater. My electric dropped $40 (15-20%) even though Jan Feb has been colder.
Turn your heat down as low as you can and don't use any backset (lower at night or when you are away) with a heatpump. That can cause more usage of the backup heat as it tries to warm up when you turn up the thermostat .
dun11
02-19-09, 01:41 PM
I was just kidding with you. You more then likely have a H/P, as Gunguy said set your stat at one temp and leave it there.
What you need to determine is if your outdoor unit is running on a call for heat, if its not you could be running on straight electric back-up, that would give you very high elec bills. I would follow Dac122 advise and have a good local contractor come out for a good annual maintenance and all your questions will be answered. They should also be able to tell you the most economical way to run your system.
What you need to determine is if your outdoor unit is running on a call for heat, if its not you could be running on straight electric back-up, that would give you very high elec bills. I would follow Dac122 advise and have a good local contractor come out for a good annual maintenance and all your questions will be answered. They should also be able to tell you the most economical way to run your system.