Heat Pump and power consumption

[goeduck]

The other factor is the user. DO NOT set back the temp unless you will be gone for days. Constant temp setting is the best option. After a setback, the requirement for a rapid temp rise will cause most units to kick-in aux heat. Some modern thermostats that are programmed for a setback will slowly rise temperature and not trip the aux heat, but in general the savings from a setback are exaggerated.

If your outside temperatures are above 40 degF day and night, can you just turn off the elec reheats at the breaker?

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm thinking after reading through this thread, that I ought have a HVAC technician come out and do a check up. I have forced air electric tied to a heat pump. I recently installed a Nest thermostat and I am unsure I have the setting correctly. I never really paid attention to when or if my heat pump came on in the cold weather for heating. I do recall it coming on for A/C cooling but thats because I am outside then I guess.

Been 10 years since we have lived here... never had a tech out yet. :ashamed: I guess that is a good thing.

 

[goeduck]

I'm thinking after reading through this thread, that I ought have a HVAC technician come out and do a check up. I have forced air electric tied to a heat pump. I recently installed a Nest thermostat and I am unsure I have the setting correctly. I never really paid attention to when or if my heat pump came on in the cold weather for heating. I do recall it coming on for A/C cooling but thats because I am outside then I guess.

Been 10 years since we have lived here... never had a tech out yet. :ashamed: I guess that is a good thing.

If it is a heat pump it should be your primary heat source in the winter with the outdoor unit regularly coming on.

 

[dragoneggs]

If it is a heat pump it should be your primary heat source in the winter with the outdoor unit regularly coming on.

I guess I had better get a service tech out.

 

[Turbys_1700]

To a side note. Duke Energy sent me access to an online comparison of my energy usage versus average usage for my size of home in my area. My average consumption is over the average and they have suggestions on how to correct it. I know how to correct it. New windows and tighten up a 65 year old brick house built to 1953 standards.

I have found that as my wife and I age gracefully into senior citizen status it requires more heat to stay comfortable. And I will stay comfortable.

 

[David Wayne]

Heat pumps are sized based on your cooling needs not your heating needs so the AC runs long enough to de-humidify the air. On heat side of things they are 12,000 btu's per ton, so heating your home with a 3 ton unit is like heating with a 36,000 btu furnace. When we built I told the HVAC man to size it for heat.

 

[Sigarms]

Lots of difference heating a 1400 sq ft ranch vs a 2500 sq ft 2 story. Air has to be pushed a lot farther and a lot more variations in temp between floors. Plus our house was built in 1970. Newer construction is much more efficient. Although ours is all brick

There really isn't any difference between heating and cooling a 500 square foot home compared to a 5,000 square foot home.

Proper load on home by each room, proper duct design for each room. Now, heating and cooling loads can very greatly between two homes that are the exact same size.

North Carolina is now code that new homes must maintain a 2 degree difference between floor levels.

The reality is however that in general, larger multiple floor homes do cost more due to the layout and extra install material and size of equipment.

On a new install with ductwork, I've seen the same cost vary by as much as $10,000. Sometimes the there IS a reason for the price variances. The key is that the end user know what they are getting and what of their expectations can be met.

 

[RickB]

A 1400 sq ft home is very small and probably 1 floor. Try heating a 2500 sq ft 2 story and maintaining 72 degrees with a heat pump when it's 0 degrees out.

And your point is?
Abnormal electrical usage is just that.

 

[gary49]

If your outside temperatures are above 40 degF day and night, can you just turn off the elec reheats at the breaker?

Heat pump air handlers that have more than one breaker incorporated with them have more than one stage of resistance heat, you can turn off the stage or stages that don't include the power to run the fan and controls. However, if temp is above 40, and no one is turning the thermostat up, the resistance heat would only be running when the heat pump is defrosting, and that doesn't take long.

 

[Old Red]

I can shut my backup aux heat electric strips at the thermostat or the breaker. I actually have a 10KW heat strip and I turned 1/2 of them off. So only 5KW kick in when it is needed. I used to keep them turned off completely but my house is so efficient and my bills are relatively inexpensive for the size of our home.