Comments on: The Easy Way to Switch to a Heat Pump https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Sat, 17 Feb 2024 15:24:43 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: Fredrick A https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-37492 Sat, 17 Feb 2024 15:24:43 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-37492 I recently moved into a late 1960s house that has a central AC/furnace. I want to update to a heat pump because we have solar PV, and also because our system is definitely oversized (5ton for a ~2600 space), and very loud (system in a closet off of the living room, so when the blower runs you need to shout to hear each other). I’m in California, temperature might dip to at worst upper 40’s at night in the depths of winter so I don’t need aux heat. Should I just get rid of the furnace? Bonus if this would mean I could “reclaim” some of the closet space since the furnace is taking up most of it.

Thank you

]]>
By: Dave https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34695 Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:21:09 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34695 Fabulous article, thanks. I live in Toronto, where it gets to zero degrees now and then, but generally around 15 in the winter.

]]>
By: Shaun reid https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34685 Sun, 24 Sep 2023 11:11:48 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34685 In reply to Stephen.

You can do a heat pump system called a ductless split that is the best way when u have a boiler we have been adding cooling only unit to houses with boilers because of no duct work is installed but u do end up with multiple microwave size indoor unit on the upper walls

]]>
By: chuck halloran https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34529 Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:42:31 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34529 In reply to JayW.

Easy as ready the installation instructions. Also, The 2 stage Tstat by B*******
has a few models hav the adjustments for 2nd stage switching and differential between 1st and second. W/or w/o Wi/fi. When you HP falls below the demand..2nd stage sweetly cycles on and looks out HP on stage one. You get maximum heat pump output capacity w/o any balance point nonsense. If you want to play w EBP…they hav aps for that too.

]]>
By: Phil https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34510 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:56:44 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34510 In reply to Chris.

Nest thermostat supports the duel heat sources up to 2 stages.

]]>
By: John H https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34507 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 04:12:48 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34507 In reply to Stephane Boisjoli.

Stephane,
Just because I’ve can buy a heat pump which works down to -40C doesn’t mean you should, particularly if using the heat pump for air conditioning. I believe there is an older article from Alister describing the issues with using only a heat pump. The issue is that sizing a heat pump for the worst possible temperature gives an air conditioner which is way oversized. It will short cycle and will not do a great job of dehumidifying in the summer. This is especially true for older houses which are not well insulated. Even new houses which only reach 5 ACH are probably not great candidates for only a heat pump in moderate cold winter climates. A far northern or southern latitude which gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer without being a passive house is probably a poor match for a heat pump with electric auxiliary heat.

]]>
By: Andrew https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34504 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 22:12:28 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34504 In reply to RoyC.

Thank you RoyC. All kinds of “balancing points“ with the refrigerants I’m sure. I too am looking forward to seeing an everyman’s analysis done by someone who possesses the technical skill and approachability/understanding to do a good job translating the dry tomes done by industry and government that represent so much work. Thanks for your answer. Definitely a role for graphs.

]]>
By: John H https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34503 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 21:36:15 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34503 In reply to Chris.

Heat pumps typically have two extra controls at the thermostat, one for auxiliary heat when the heat pump is not keeping up with the demand, and emergency heat in case the more complicated compressor system breaks down. In an all-electric house, these turn on electric strip heaters in the air handler. Both of those can trigger the gas furnace on a dual-source heat pump. A more sophisticated thermostat that understands a dual source heat pump could make different decisions than a generic heat pump thermostat. But, one has to use a thermostat with that extra control, which also may require more wires from the thermostat to the air handler. If it all comes from one brand, a communicating thermostat may be able to use fewer wires, as all the boxes talk over a HVAC network instead of using on-off controls.

]]>
By: RoyC https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34501 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:02:51 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34501 In reply to Chris.

Sorry, but I can’t make any specific recommendations on that. Most heat pump manufacturers should be able to provide you with the appropriate dual-fuel thermostat. If you use a third-party thermostat, be sure that it won’t run the furnace and heat pump simultaneously.

]]>
By: Stephane Boisjoli https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-easy-way-to-switch-to-a-heat-pump/#comment-34500 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:03:23 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8513#comment-34500 There are heat pumps that work to -40 C, so keeping your old expensive to run furnace is not necessary, as well as it’s expensive natural gas connection that charges you connection fees. My Mitsubishi Zumba pump has been doing 99.9% of the heating, only needing a tad of electric resistive heat backup when it’s -28C or below. If it was half a ton more it would never need resistive heat, but there was no space for it.
I suppose if your house only has 100 amp service or you don’t want to spend enough to buy a heat pump capable of it all, you could do what this article talks about. But I have a feeling you’ll have wished you got rid of the old outdated furnace technology.

]]>