Heating options...

upthesaukee · 11-30-2007, 05:23 PM

When we lived in upstate NY, just north of Albany, we had a house with a heat pump. We lived through two years (natural gas was the fuel), and it was absolutely wonderful in the spring summer fall. Winter, now that's another story. Vents downstairs (which is where we spent all our time) were high on the wall. We had no problem with freezeups of the coils, but the air temperature coming out of the vents was in the sixties. Never could get the temps over 70 unless the temps outside were around 40 or so. We had two repairmen come in and check out the system, and were told by both, it was ok, it was fairly efficient still, but just not made to heat houses in the north. Got a third opinion, same story, and had also got estimates on changing over to gas furnace, which we did, keeping the heat pump for a/c. Third guy was the cheapest, and highly recommended.

I would not opt for a heat pump here in this area.

jeffk · 11-30-2007, 05:56 PM

I had a enhanced heat pump at a previous house in Southern NH. It not only provided heat and A/C for the house, it also heated my hot water and when the A/C was running dumped the waste heat into a coil that heated my above ground pool. It had a set of exchange panels to extend its ability to pull additional heat in winter.The system was truly amazing and extremely economical (I was saving at least $1000 a year. Very expensive to install however) until winter hit. I could heat the house until the outside temp hit about 10 or 15 degrees. As pointed out by others a regular heat pump won't work at temps that low. But the panels were on the roof and although they did not need sun, they did need air flow so when the snow built up they needed to be shoveled off. What a pain. As it turned out, the stress on the system during the winter was too much and I started to have expensive breakdowns and since the system was a Rube Goldberg affair only one person from out of the area would work on it. I finally had to pull it all out and replace it with a propane system.

Anyway, the short of it is that it's too cold for a heat pump to work during the winter around here.

Puckster · 11-30-2007, 06:14 PM

Just say no to geothermal. Too much initial expense and like stated before more of rub goldberg experiment for contractors in this area. Heat pumps are great for late spring and fall for cold mornings. I would take a look at the wood pellet stoves. Pellets are clean and easy to handle. Soon trucks will be delivering them like they coal used to be delivered. It is done this way in europe, and we are always 10 or so years behind in this area.

fatlazyless · 11-30-2007, 07:10 PM

Here's one differance between propane boilers, furnaces and room space heaters and the same but fired by #2 heating oil

With propane, it can run for years without needing a service call.

With oil, it should get an annual tune-up to clean out the burnt oil residue, replace the nozzle, and oil filter(s), and maybe adjust the air intake for best efficiency.

Oil is a good fuel because it costs less than propane and a gallon of oil has more heat in it than a gallon of propane. Also, you DO NOT GET MARRIED w/ no possibility of divorce with oil. With propane, the dealer owns the tank, and yoo are stuck with that dealer and cannot shop around for a new dealer. This makes a big differance, and the propane dealers all know it.

Oil requires a $100. annual tune-up and propane does not.

For an unoccupied weekend home, a propane heater with a pilot light will continue to make heat even when the power is out, like if a tree falls on the line to your house. With oil, when there's no electricity there is no heat. Oil tends to be more problematic than propane and has more 'no-heat' calls.

I have a Rinnai propane 30,000btu heater which was purchased by me for $800.,, reduced-end of season sale n 1993, which I installed myself, and to this day it works perfectly and has never had a service call or anything what
so-ever done to it.

It has a built in thermostat, or by turning up the dial it sends out a lot of warm air starting in just 20 short seconds......everytime.

I love my Rinnai heater, it is a direct-vent model, and if Rinnai wants to send me a $500. check for promoting Rinnai, I will gladly accept it.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Anyone have one of the non-vented propane heaters which are totally not vented? Are they any good? Do you smell any of the propane fuel smell in the hot air heat or is it as clean smelling as the same campany's vented model.............honestly?

These non-vented propane heaters usually specify that they are NOT for use in a bedroom. Why is that? If it is ok for the living room or kitchen, then why not a bedroom?

11-30-2007, 05:23 PM	#1
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,599 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,459 Thanked 1,981 Times in 1,082 Posts	heat pumps When we lived in upstate NY, just north of Albany, we had a house with a heat pump. We lived through two years (natural gas was the fuel), and it was absolutely wonderful in the spring summer fall. Winter, now that's another story. Vents downstairs (which is where we spent all our time) were high on the wall. We had no problem with freezeups of the coils, but the air temperature coming out of the vents was in the sixties. Never could get the temps over 70 unless the temps outside were around 40 or so. We had two repairmen come in and check out the system, and were told by both, it was ok, it was fairly efficient still, but just not made to heat houses in the north. Got a third opinion, same story, and had also got estimates on changing over to gas furnace, which we did, keeping the heat pump for a/c. Third guy was the cheapest, and highly recommended. I would not opt for a heat pump here in this area. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

11-30-2007, 06:14 PM	#3
Puckster Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 38 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	geothermal and heat pumps Just say no to geothermal. Too much initial expense and like stated before more of rub goldberg experiment for contractors in this area. Heat pumps are great for late spring and fall for cold mornings. I would take a look at the wood pellet stoves. Pellets are clean and easy to handle. Soon trucks will be delivering them like they coal used to be delivered. It is done this way in europe, and we are always 10 or so years behind in this area.

11-30-2007, 05:56 PM	#2
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,172 Thanks: 205 Thanked 437 Times in 253 Posts	Heat pump can't hack winter I had a enhanced heat pump at a previous house in Southern NH. It not only provided heat and A/C for the house, it also heated my hot water and when the A/C was running dumped the waste heat into a coil that heated my above ground pool. It had a set of exchange panels to extend its ability to pull additional heat in winter.The system was truly amazing and extremely economical (I was saving at least $1000 a year. Very expensive to install however) until winter hit. I could heat the house until the outside temp hit about 10 or 15 degrees. As pointed out by others a regular heat pump won't work at temps that low. But the panels were on the roof and although they did not need sun, they did need air flow so when the snow built up they needed to be shoveled off. What a pain. As it turned out, the stress on the system during the winter was too much and I started to have expensive breakdowns and since the system was a Rube Goldberg affair only one person from out of the area would work on it. I finally had to pull it all out and replace it with a propane system. Anyway, the short of it is that it's too cold for a heat pump to work during the winter around here.

11-30-2007, 07:10 PM	#4
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,755 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,010 Times in 736 Posts	Here's one differance between propane boilers, furnaces and room space heaters and the same but fired by #2 heating oil With propane, it can run for years without needing a service call. With oil, it should get an annual tune-up to clean out the burnt oil residue, replace the nozzle, and oil filter(s), and maybe adjust the air intake for best efficiency. Oil is a good fuel because it costs less than propane and a gallon of oil has more heat in it than a gallon of propane. Also, you DO NOT GET MARRIED w/ no possibility of divorce with oil. With propane, the dealer owns the tank, and yoo are stuck with that dealer and cannot shop around for a new dealer. This makes a big differance, and the propane dealers all know it. Oil requires a $100. annual tune-up and propane does not. For an unoccupied weekend home, a propane heater with a pilot light will continue to make heat even when the power is out, like if a tree falls on the line to your house. With oil, when there's no electricity there is no heat. Oil tends to be more problematic than propane and has more 'no-heat' calls. I have a Rinnai propane 30,000btu heater which was purchased by me for $800.,, reduced-end of season sale n 1993, which I installed myself, and to this day it works perfectly and has never had a service call or anything what so-ever done to it. It has a built in thermostat, or by turning up the dial it sends out a lot of warm air starting in just 20 short seconds......everytime. I love my Rinnai heater, it is a direct-vent model, and if Rinnai wants to send me a $500. check for promoting Rinnai, I will gladly accept it. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Anyone have one of the non-vented propane heaters which are totally not vented? Are they any good? Do you smell any of the propane fuel smell in the hot air heat or is it as clean smelling as the same campany's vented model.............honestly? These non-vented propane heaters usually specify that they are NOT for use in a bedroom. Why is that? If it is ok for the living room or kitchen, then why not a bedroom?