topic Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners in Home

Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

PickyPicky3 — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 02:07:27 GMT

My heat pump is now 11 years old. If something goes wrong, I'll replace, not repair. I live in an all electric community and a heat pump is my only option. I'm doing "pre-research."

If you live in a cold climate and have replaced yours in the past few years, are you happy with your choice? Anything you would do/not do over again? Any specific options that made a big difference?

@Carmie Didn't you recently install a new one? How's it going?

Thanks ......

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

skatting44 — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 02:53:55 GMT

In my area some who do not have access to natural gas to heat their homes have 2 systems in place such as a heat pump for cooling and have a propane gas tank to heat their homes. If I have it to do over, I'm going to go with a propane tank to heat my home .

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

PickyPicky3 — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 02:59:55 GMT

@skatting44 If only I could! This is a townhouse community and they're not permitted.

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

Carmie — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 03:45:10 GMT

@PickyPicky3 We installed a new model a few years ago. The original heat pump was installed when we built our home. There was nothing wrong with it, but our son who works in HVAC said heat pumps do not last longer than about 16 years and ours was older than that by quite a few years. He felt we should replace before it died on it's own.

You are correct to replace and not repair an older unit.

The newer unit is much quieter and more efficient. Our heat and AC bills went down. The older unit was a York. The newer model is a Trane.

My son and his friend installed it for us. He works on these units and said the Trane is the best and though expensive will save us money. So far it has.

We are heat pump fans. I have lived in homes with gas, oil, and hot water heat and prefer the heat pump.

York was a good model too. It served us well over many years.

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

PickyPicky3 — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 04:24:20 GMT

Hi @Carmie Did you get a standard heat pump or one of the newer models designed for cold climates that allow the unit to keep functioning as a heat pump at low temperatures and not switch to back-up?

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

Carmie — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 14:59:55 GMT

@PickyPicky3 I honestly don't know. My son just decided and installed it for us. I'll ask him and let you know.

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

PickyPicky3 — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 21:22:28 GMT

@Carmie Thanks. That would help a lot. How great to have a son in the HVAC business.

Re: Cold Climate Heat Pump Owners

RedTop — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 21:57:13 GMT

My advice is to just find the best, and most trustworthy heat pump business in your area, and let them advise you.

We have been dealing with the number one heating and air business in this area for nearly 30 years. When we need to replace a heat pump, we go with what they recommend, and have never had any problems.

I am in WV, and we experience bitter cold temperatures during the winter. The mention of polar vortex and arctic air means I will switch my thermostat to Emergency Heat so the heat comes thru the inside unit like a forced air furnace, instead of the outside unit running nonstop.

The original heat pump for this house was a Ruud and we are on our second Lennox over the course of 39 years. We had the current system installed 18 months ago for $5500.