Geothermal heat pump vs air source heat pump vs gas
jessica13
13 years ago
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booboo60
13 years agolast modified: 7 years agoathensmomof3
13 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
Seattle- Heat Pump/Gas Furnace vs AC/Gas Furnace
Comments (13)You should definitely be pricing with just heat pump. I live in NC which probably is a bit colder in the winter. We get down to the teens but only 15 nights a year maybe. Our winter average low is about 30. Under 10 degrees is definitely a news story. I have 5000 sq ft. I'm looking at my NG bill of $30. I have dual fuel and seer 16 heat pumps. Last winter was very cold and I spent about $700 with $200 being gas. This winter is going to be $120 in gas. My electric rates are similar to yours without the first 1000 discount. What is my point? Your gas usage will likely be $100 a year. Even if that were replaced with all heating strips, you'd be saving $200 a year or so. Since it would probable be 80% heat pump still, the dual fuel is only saving you $40 a year. So a $2500 furnace to save $40 a year seems a little crazy (on dollars alone). Turns out for me, it is probably worth it but only marginally so. I have a 90% (which you should be able to do as mine is basement with horizontal PVC exhaust). It probably saves $60-$70 on an average year. Probably cost $2000 (new house - I can't remember). What is that a 30 year payback (or never if you count interest or NG rates increase)? You do get some flexibility and you can setback at will with dual fuel. That is worth something....See Morea/c & gas furnace vs heat pump with gas backup
Comments (6)Based on the information you've provided, sounds like the York quote is the best option, but I don't agree with the 80% modulating furnace. That's a high-end furnace, and going with the 80% version doesn't make sense to me, especially in our region where it can get cold at times (I'm in Maryland). Is PVC venting an issue? The York Affinity is a nice line of equipment. American Standard isn't bad, either, but the equipment that the York rep. is quoting is better in my opinion. 3 tons is a bit much for your cooling load, but it's what you'd have to go with if you went with the Affinity line. The 2.5-ton Latitude unit would be the better fit. With the low stage on the Affinity approximately meeting the cooling load at design conditions (which won't be met on all days), I don't think you'll be getting those long run times that you should with a 2-stage system. Ask the York rep. if he can quote the CZB or YZB 2.5-ton single-stage Affinity unit with a 90+ efficient v/s furnace (modulating or 2-stage). Not sure where the American Standard rep. came up with his sizing. Do you like it cold in your house (68-70)? Did the York rep. do the load calculation?...See MoreHas the time come for geothermal vs air source heat pump?
Comments (4)According to one dealer, around the first of the year, Florida Heat Pump raised their wholesale prices 20% on some models. I also talked to an individual that does the ground loop installation for a number of HVAC dealers. He stated his clients raised their installed prices substantially when the tax credit came into effect. When the Feds announced the credit, demand for GSHPs jumped. Some of the manufacturers and dealers are charging as much as the customers are willing to bear. Since I just got quotes on these things from three different sources, including the DIY kit based on ClimateMaster equipment as a sanity check, I can pretty much guarantee the installed prices are out of line with the real word, especially when an old line HVAC dealer tells you there is no ROI, even with the tax credit....See MoreHeat Pump vs Gas Furnace: Which should I install?
Comments (9)Where milder/less mild matters is in the heating season with a heat pump. The AC functions about the same, but if it's too cold out the heat pump BTU output may not be enough to keep up. Even if you have plenty of AC capacity in the summer. I assume you're on NG and not propane. Also, $2.1 per hundred cubic feet (ccf) would be more normal. Ours in ATL is around $1/therm (therm = ccf), and it might be $2.1 once you add on the administrative costs. It might make sense, if you're already paying the overhead on your NG account, to go with a dual fuel system. The extra use spreads that admin cost further, if your system is set up to do it when it makes sense. A dual fuel system will run the HP until it can't keep up (or the controls lock it out based on outside temperature), then kick on the gas furnace as the 2nd stage. This takes advantage of running the heat pump most of the time without needing electric heating strips as backup heat. The HP will put out about 3X as much heat as the energy it uses- that's what makes it cheaper to run than a NG furnace. But the backup heat strips are 1:1 on energy to heat, which usually isn't competitive with NG. Also, I kind of like the idea of having a standard efficiency gas water heater. Offends my drive for efficiency, but as a kid on the N end of AL, the power went out enough during hurricanes, ice storms and the like that it was nice to still have hot water (and a fireplace) when that stuff happened....See Moregopintos
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