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Heating & Air Conditioning

Need new AC/Furnace - heat pump or not? Best Brand?

14 years ago

Help I really need advice!!! A friend of mine is replacing her furnace/ac combo and currently has a heat pump. We live in Western PA and when I replaced MY system 2 years ago I opted NOT to get a heat pump again. My neighbor seems to think there is a long term cost savings involved in getting a heat pump - I always worry about the cap coming off the electrical rates and that not being a savings. ANYONE out there offer advice on Heat pump in Western pa or what combo you do recommend? Looking for a middle of the road system - a quote she got for HP/AC was around 9k and she was hoping for a system around 7k or so. Any good recommendations? thanks! melissa

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Comments (4)

tigerdunes
14 years ago
scottmel

several questions.

what size condo? one story or two? internal or external condo? does condo have basement or crawl space?

what is current size of existing heat pump system?

what is electric rate? does utility offer special rate for heat pump heating? what is nat gas rate/therm?

post back and I will offer an opinion.

I am attaching a link for fuel comparison calculator which is a useful guide.

IMO

Here is a link that might be useful: Fuel Comparison Calculator
scottmel
Original Author
14 years ago
oh sorry tiger, it is NOT a condo. 2 story detached home with finished basement. maybe 2200 sq feet not including finished basement. I guess what I would like to know is WHY in western pa a heat pump would even be suggested? Our temps get quite freezing for 3 months of the year. The rates I have not investigated but at one point our electric company had a cap on rates that expire in 2010. So that is a wildcard at this point. Maybe it comes down to personal preference...
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Thanks. The contractor seemed to indicate that the changeover to a straight heat pump would cost as much or more due to the age of the house and the built-in inefficiencies. I suspect we are looking at an A/C unit replacement because the furnace has not malfunctioned this summer. Hmm....wonder why not? Wait till fall then pay more to replace that as well. Trouble is they are trying to milk what they can out of the warranty company but at some point the company has to say NO...your system needs replacement and we don't cover that. Stand by for updates.
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tigerdunes
14 years ago
scottmel

my apologies and my error.

I don't know why I thought this was a condo.

If nat gas is available, then definitely I would go for a high eff nat gas furnace. Forget the heat pump unless you are interested in dual fuel and electric rates are reasonable. I would investigate nat gas rates and electric rates.

What size furnace/AC does your friend have now?

I can make some suggestions if you like. Your friend definitely wants to take advantage of Fed Govt Tax Credit.

post back.

IMO
neohioheatpump
14 years ago
I live in NE ohio in Cleveland suburbs.(not far away from western PA).
I don't get discounted electric. I have a 90% natural gas furnace and just replaced my A/C with a 15 seer heat pump.

My electric costs .11 total cost delivered per KW/hour. My electric isn't cheap but not crazy expensive. Even with gas being pretty cheap this season, the heatpump is less expensive to run. I run my heatpump when above 25 Degrees. Sometimes I'll switch to auxiliary (my gas) if there is a blizzard and the heatpump goes into defrost alot.

The advantages to the heatpump with having a gas furnace is that you can heat with the least expensive option. If gas gets crazy expensive again, just run the heatpump. Its also nice having another stage of heat. When running the heatpump you don't have any cold-spots that you might get when running a single stage furnace when its not very cold.

Also, a heatpump system shouldn't cost much more then just replacing a regular A/C. If it does, the installer is charging a bunch extra beyond costs of the components. My heatpump system requires a fancier thermostat. I would go with honeywell wireless focus pro. It doesn't cost a ton and it does a great job for dual fuel. Its also easier for the installer too. The heatpump condenser itself only costs a couple hundred more than a regular A/C condensor in my experience.

9 grand sounds like alot. Call some independent licensed installers and get a rough estimate over the phone for what you want.

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