Noble Realms — Heat pumps Question

Re: Heat pumps Question

null@example.com (Barefoot Doc) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:44:14 +0000

Thanks for the replies it seems worth looking into, the alternative would be to get another large woodburner with a backboiler but i like the way you can reverse heat pumps for cooling and heat.

Re: Heat pumps Question

null@example.com (treehugger) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:57:24 +0000

Hey BDoc.. I have a heat pump. It definately is cheaper than some of the other alternatives. The big difference I found for me is that I grew up with the big old gas and oil furnaces with the huge iron radiators that you could put your wet boots and gloves on, and cozy up to, when you came in from the cold and snow.
Heat pumps dont give you that warm and cozy feeling when its really cold outside. They blow "warm" air. So if it gets really , really cold outside, and you want to be a bit warmer, you have to kick on the "emergency heat", which essentially is an electic heating element that the air blows over to warm the house quicker. So that is my only complaint. It cools the house very nicely in the summer,(and believe me, you need it here in Virginia during the summer)If your house is more than one story, then its best to get the zoned heating and cooling,(so you can control the temp on each floor), and make sure its the appropriate size for your house. Ive heard many people complain that their upstairs is hot in the summer and cold in the winter because their unit was too small for their size house.

Re: Heat pumps Question

null@example.com (T-Ren) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:29:56 +0000

It's time consuming but I am looking at the possibility of ground thermal for heating/ cooling of the house.

Heat pumps Question

null@example.com (Barefoot Doc) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:41:49 +0000

Does anyone have any knowledge of or own a heat pump for domestic heating and hot water, i have heard they a lot cheaper to run than gas or electric heating, and have the advanatge of being able to revere the cycle so cooling in the summer and warming in the winter and they work on the same principle as a fridge.