Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - cold weather operation
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : cold weather operation
redvett
03-22-09, 07:07 PM
I am considering replacing my 7 year old central A/C with a heat pump. How cold a climate wil a system work in. My zip is 49738.
kilowatt
03-22-09, 08:35 PM
Do you know how an A/C unit works? In the majority of residential units the inside unit [evaporator] takes the heat out of the house and transfers it to the outdoor unit [condencer]. In the winter the opposite happens. The min. outdoor temp. is around 40 F for heat and you will be using emergency heat much of the time. I'm sure the winter average is below 40F.There are watersource heatpumps [geothermal] and absorbsion units.Go to"heatpumps" on the web for info.
cyberdead
03-23-09, 08:32 PM
This is not an AC unit it is a Heat Pump unit.. the balance point of your unit. (when it can no longer heat your space) depends upon several things.
1-The heat load/loss needs to be done on the home to see what the heating requirement is.
2-The heating BTU of your system.
3- The performance curve or your unit.
this temp could fall between 40 and 20 degrees depending upon the equipment.
Not all heat pumps are created equal. :wall:
There is heat in the air until the air reaches Absolute zero... and since Absolute zero cannot be reached, by artificial or natural means. that means there is heat in the air .. now it is up to your heat pump to get that heat out of the air....
Which one can do the best job?
That is what you need to check and see before pick a heat pump system.... so many people go with the "lowest price" but what if I told you that a system might cost you $800 more up front but since it could heat your home to a "lower balance point" that it would save you $2400 over the life of the system.. which one should you chose?
Do not ever believe what you hear.. get out and do the research and find out for yourselfs!:wall:
If you want to learn a little more about Heat Pumps.. see this post I just made... (http://forum.doityourself.com/thermostatic-controls/384087-thermostat-wiring-assistance-request.html#post1542944)
1-The heat load/loss needs to be done on the home to see what the heating requirement is.
2-The heating BTU of your system.
3- The performance curve or your unit.
this temp could fall between 40 and 20 degrees depending upon the equipment.
Not all heat pumps are created equal. :wall:
There is heat in the air until the air reaches Absolute zero... and since Absolute zero cannot be reached, by artificial or natural means. that means there is heat in the air .. now it is up to your heat pump to get that heat out of the air....
Which one can do the best job?
That is what you need to check and see before pick a heat pump system.... so many people go with the "lowest price" but what if I told you that a system might cost you $800 more up front but since it could heat your home to a "lower balance point" that it would save you $2400 over the life of the system.. which one should you chose?
Do not ever believe what you hear.. get out and do the research and find out for yourselfs!:wall:
If you want to learn a little more about Heat Pumps.. see this post I just made... (http://forum.doityourself.com/thermostatic-controls/384087-thermostat-wiring-assistance-request.html#post1542944)