I have been thinking about buying a portable AC/heat pump. I know they are limited to above freezing temperatures but the economy of operation attracts me.
Right now I am in a place (OR) with electric heat, no gas or oil available.
Home Depot has a unit on sale on their web site.
Heat pump for winter heating
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JHZR2
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Oregon? How many heating days and how cold at minimum? I think the better units can go down to pretty low temperatures (Ive never used it but IIRC the heat pump operation on my split system is -13F when it runs its internal heater, and 5F just running the cycle.
I guess my issue is why would you do this? It makes zero sense to me. I bought a system with the capability, as it was the high SEER unit that was available (mini splits are much less lossy then central units and can go as high as 31 SEER). However, youre still running a thermodynamic cycle that is governed by mechanical and thermal exchanges at many sites.
A resistive heater is 100% efficient, and so is likely the better bet than a more complex and convoluted approach.
Heat pumps are more than 100% efficient. 1kWh has 3400 btus when used as resistive heat. They use them around me in the winter but they get tied into a ground water or closed loop glycol transfer loop in the ground.
http://www.rapidtables.com/convert/energy/BTU_to_kWh.htm
Sounds interesting, I'd run the math of course and see what the payback period is. If its a only a couple of years I'd try it, if it takes any longer to pay off, then I wouldn't invest too much in case your situation changes.
I missed OR was oregon.
I read it as or.
I know my heat pump electric hot water tank is quite the energy saver.. but moving energy from air to water.. is probably easier than extracting heat out of cold air.
at 600$? I would think the ROI would be quite a few years... But I dont have any numbers on your seasonal electic bill from heating..
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I opted out of the heat pump promotion by the local REA co-op fourteen years ago and went with electric heat. All the other seven houses on the block were built with heat pumps. Saw the local HVAC guy make many visits up and down the street to fix heat pump problems. Never had to have him look at my Rheem/Ruud electric furnace/ac. Did the same on the house we just completed but went with another brand.
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
I opted out of the heat pump promotion by the local REA co-op fourteen years ago and went with electric heat. All the other seven houses on the block were built with heat pumps. Saw the local HVAC guy make many visits up and down the street to fix heat pump problems. Never had to have him look at my Rheem/Ruud electric furnace/ac. Did the same on the house we just completed but went with another brand.
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I live in Virgina with a heat pump and when it gets below 35 degrees use the oil filled radiator heaters over the electric emergency heat source built in the heat pump system. This makes a real difference in my winter electric bills.
*The defrost board can fail in a heat pump, then its on straight electric heat.
Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
I opted out of the heat pump promotion by the local REA co-op fourteen years ago and went with electric heat. All the other seven houses on the block were built with heat pumps. Saw the local HVAC guy make many visits up and down the street to fix heat pump problems. Never had to have him look at my Rheem/Ruud electric furnace/ac. Did the same on the house we just completed but went with another brand.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Propane creates a "warmer heat "?
That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
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