Re: Re: O/T Central heat and a/c

Posted by Greywolf on November 19, 2003 at 05:31:48 from (209.23.142.7):

In Reply to: Re: O/T Central heat and a/c posted by paul on November 18, 2003 at 10:56:06:

In '92 I installed an air to air heat pump. I didn't have central air at the farm when I moved here full time.

The REA provided the financing for the install.

For me, the system has proved to be very cost effective. By letting the REA do the auto control of the system, they give me a 4 cent credit on power for the system. A seperate meter was required for monitoring the power usuage for credit.

I have a 40 yr old fuel oil furnance back up (The first year heating cost 91-92 was between $800-900) with a 3 stage thermostat. Heat pump, 5KW strip heater in plenum, and the furnance.

The first 5 yrs I kept close records to see just how cost effective it was. My house is 2000 sq ft old farm house, insulation minimal with 60 yr old plus windows (read a hole closing object at best hehe). My records have shown that from the start of heating season until mid Dec and from Mar till the end of heating season, it costs me less than a $100 bill for heat. The 2 1/2 months of the dead of winter will require the furnace to kick in from time to time to "help" out.

I have a 250 gal tank for fuel, the last time it was filled was in Jan of 2001.

I live about 20 miles from paul (to the northwest even...LOL), so yeah -35 is seen from time to time and the northwest wind howls real bad at times. The way my yard is set up, I don't have full protection from the northwest, the road going right past my place opens a nice wind tunnel at times.

Even with the improved efficiency of a closed loop ground system, I couldn't recoup the extra costs over and above from what I have now. A friend did the closed loop system after seeing my low costs. Installed a new gas furnace with the system. He manually turns the furnace on once a year to make sure it works, has never had it come on to supplement heat even in the dead of winter.

The key to cost effectiveness is whether or not you can get credit for the use. Set up properly, it should at the least be a wash.

Which ever system you decide on, make sure the installer is properly sizing your system. Mine is at minimum a half ton too small, but I wouldn't go any other route.

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