Electrifying the House

[Anonymous]

Are there any big practical downsides from those who have electrified already?

We're doing a major addition/reno and I'm thinking of switching from gas to electric- heat pumps x2, heat pump hot water heater, induction stove. I realize the initial costs will be higher, but we might capture a lot back on utility bills over the next 10 or so years. I also appreciate being less fossil fuel reliant and future proofing. I am also thinking about whether to get a whole house battery backup and rooftop solar. But, I am leaning against those. The mechanical engineer insisted that the new heat pumps are not drafty like the earlier generations and that the heat pump water heater will produce more hot water than the current one. Induction cooking will be an adjustment, but I like the idea of better indoor air quality and boiling water faster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any big practical downsides from those who have electrified already?

We're doing a major addition/reno and I'm thinking of switching from gas to electric- heat pumps x2, heat pump hot water heater, induction stove. I realize the initial costs will be higher, but we might capture a lot back on utility bills over the next 10 or so years. I also appreciate being less fossil fuel reliant and future proofing. I am also thinking about whether to get a whole house battery backup and rooftop solar. But, I am leaning against those. The mechanical engineer insisted that the new heat pumps are not drafty like the earlier generations and that the heat pump water heater will produce more hot water than the current one. Induction cooking will be an adjustment, but I like the idea of better indoor air quality and boiling water faster.

So by heat pump you mean where you have the heating oil delivered? We lived in a house with no gas, well and septic. Griffin oil, the company that most of our neighborhood used to refill and maintain was notorious in not keeping up. Most years we’d wake up freezing cold in November because the oil had run out. Had to wait for them to come out.

[Anonymous]

We just did a reno where we changed from gas to electric water heating and to an induction cooktop. Only thing that is left on gas is the furnace which is only a decade old. No drawbacks so far.

[Anonymous]

We moved last year to a home with no gas line. Heat pump dryer, induction range, heat pump water heater, and geothermal HVAC.
I have zero complaints about any of it. People say heat pump dryers take longer, but that is not my experience (3 kids- we do a ton of laundry). And I love the induction range - I recently visited my in-laws and boiling water on a gas range felt like watching paint dry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any big practical downsides from those who have electrified already?

We're doing a major addition/reno and I'm thinking of switching from gas to electric- heat pumps x2, heat pump hot water heater, induction stove. I realize the initial costs will be higher, but we might capture a lot back on utility bills over the next 10 or so years. I also appreciate being less fossil fuel reliant and future proofing. I am also thinking about whether to get a whole house battery backup and rooftop solar. But, I am leaning against those. The mechanical engineer insisted that the new heat pumps are not drafty like the earlier generations and that the heat pump water heater will produce more hot water than the current one. Induction cooking will be an adjustment, but I like the idea of better indoor air quality and boiling water faster.

So by heat pump you mean where you have the heating oil delivered? We lived in a house with no gas, well and septic. Griffin oil, the company that most of our neighborhood used to refill and maintain was notorious in not keeping up. Most years we’d wake up freezing cold in November because the oil had run out. Had to wait for them to come out.

No, it’s electric. No heating oil needed.

[Anonymous]

I built an all-electric house in DC in 2022. Heat pump for heating and cooling, heat pump water heater, induction cooktop. Also ventless dryer.

I love it so much. We also made sure during construction that the house was well-sealed (scored 1.4 ACH50 on the blower door test for the nerds). A house with no combustion going on allows you to seal the house much more thoroughly, no chimneys or vents or makeup air.

A well-sealed house is a joy. It's quieter, more comfortable, less dusty. Many mornings I wake up and I have no idea what the weather outside is like, the house feels the same inside at 30F as it does at 85F outside.

All of the appliances work at least as well as the ones they replaced. The induction cooktop is far superior to gas, in particular. The heat pump has no problem with heating or cooling in our climate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved last year to a home with no gas line. Heat pump dryer, induction range, heat pump water heater, and geothermal HVAC.
I have zero complaints about any of it. People say heat pump dryers take longer, but that is not my experience (3 kids- we do a ton of laundry). And I love the induction range - I recently visited my in-laws and boiling water on a gas range felt like watching paint dry.

I have an induction cooktop and had a similar experience while traveling. With induction, you punch in a number and you get the same heat every time. If I want sauteed onions I punch in a six every time and they're perfect every time. When I had to cook with a gas stove I had forgotten that you have to look under the pan and see how big the flame is and adjust the knob until it's the size you think it needs to be. It seemed incredibly archaic, almost barbaric.

[Anonymous]

I have an all electric house, though it's not new, and am happy. My one concern is an alternate source of power if the electricity goes down. We have solar but no battery storage: I'd want either that or a generator.

When designing your roofline, think about solar panels when choosing the angle (panels do best if they face south) and avoid gables that will interfere with panels.

Also look into geothermal. We couldn't make it work in our reno because the pipes would have to enter through areas we weren't renovating but if I was building new I'd get it.

[Anonymous]

An all electric heat pump will cost more to run than a gas furnace/electric AC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any big practical downsides from those who have electrified already?

We're doing a major addition/reno and I'm thinking of switching from gas to electric- heat pumps x2, heat pump hot water heater, induction stove. I realize the initial costs will be higher, but we might capture a lot back on utility bills over the next 10 or so years. I also appreciate being less fossil fuel reliant and future proofing. I am also thinking about whether to get a whole house battery backup and rooftop solar. But, I am leaning against those. The mechanical engineer insisted that the new heat pumps are not drafty like the earlier generations and that the heat pump water heater will produce more hot water than the current one. Induction cooking will be an adjustment, but I like the idea of better indoor air quality and boiling water faster.

So by heat pump you mean where you have the heating oil delivered? We lived in a house with no gas, well and septic. Griffin oil, the company that most of our neighborhood used to refill and maintain was notorious in not keeping up. Most years we’d wake up freezing cold in November because the oil had run out. Had to wait for them to come out.

DP. A heat pump handles both heating and cooling, all on electric. We just moved into a house with oil heat, well and septic. Griffith insisted that they wouldn’t give us a service plan unless we replaced the oil tank. We said F that, got rid of oil and switched to a heat pump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An all electric heat pump will cost more to run than a gas furnace/electric AC.

That's an awfully categorical statement. It depends on how expensive gas is where you are, how expensive electric is, how efficient your gas furnace is and how efficient the heat pump is in your climate.

[Anonymous]

Can't comment on the whole house, but we switched our gas range to induction and its my favorite home improvement ever! Cooking is so much more pleasant now.

[Anonymous]

I've had an all-electric house in DC since 2008. No complaints.

[Anonymous]

Who in their right mind would eliminate gas for electric, especially for a stove???

Pssst. electricity comes from fossil fuels, and the mining to make those batteries is 1000x worse for the environment than coal fire or gas.

Google Myanmar and lithium mining.

[Anonymous]

When house hunting, we crossed off any houses that did not have a gas stove.