Does your heat pump heat your home in our climate?

[Anonymous]

My husband is actually a heat pump professional (an engineer who has studied them extensively). They can work in any home, but it's important to get one that fits your home and climate (he likens it to getting the right coat for the weather). So I think bc they are fairly new, technicials are still improving on this.

But the technology exists for heat pump to heat homes properly as far north as Maine/Minnesota

[Anonymous]

I have only heat pumps in my house and it was comfortable last year when it got into the single digits.

I agree with PP who said if it's not working it's not installed right. The installation is more complicated than with gas or oil burners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once lived in northeast Florida, and it didn't heat our home well THERE.

What a liar.

Such anti heat pump hate!

Nope. It you want 70+, it never shuts off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, no problem here in DC. People who had or are having trouble probably aren't lying, but they likely have much older systems, are remembering an experience from years ago, or got the wrong type of system installed for their area. Current technology works much better in cold temps than old systems did, as long it's the right type.

https://www.consumerreports.org/heat-pumps/can-heat-pumps-actually-work-in-cold-climates-a4929629430/

"When properly installed, plenty of today’s air-source heat pumps (simply “heat pumps,” for the rest of this article) can keep your home toasty even amid bone-chilling cold, using far less energy than other types of heating systems. ... Derek Traxler, a computer repair technician from Minneapolis, told us that after his steam boiler broke, he installed a heat pump that has kept his home warm for the past four winters, including during extreme cold snaps, when temperatures dropped as low as minus 29° F.

the NEEP, Lis’ organization, maintains a database of heat pump models that will perform well in cold weather. Many models in the database can heat as effectively at a frigid 5° F as they can at a mild 47° F, and can also work pretty well at temps well below zero. In other words, these heat pumps are built for the big swings in temperatures that the Northeast and Midwest see every winter."

Not lying, and the house was custom built in Jacksonville in 2017. It was never warm in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, no problem here in DC. People who had or are having trouble probably aren't lying, but they likely have much older systems, are remembering an experience from years ago, or got the wrong type of system installed for their area. Current technology works much better in cold temps than old systems did, as long it's the right type.

https://www.consumerreports.org/heat-pumps/can-heat-pumps-actually-work-in-cold-climates-a4929629430/

"When properly installed, plenty of today’s air-source heat pumps (simply “heat pumps,” for the rest of this article) can keep your home toasty even amid bone-chilling cold, using far less energy than other types of heating systems. ... Derek Traxler, a computer repair technician from Minneapolis, told us that after his steam boiler broke, he installed a heat pump that has kept his home warm for the past four winters, including during extreme cold snaps, when temperatures dropped as low as minus 29° F.

the NEEP, Lis’ organization, maintains a database of heat pump models that will perform well in cold weather. Many models in the database can heat as effectively at a frigid 5° F as they can at a mild 47° F, and can also work pretty well at temps well below zero. In other words, these heat pumps are built for the big swings in temperatures that the Northeast and Midwest see every winter."

Not lying, and the house was custom built in Jacksonville in 2017. It was never warm in the winter.

As someone else said, it's like winter clothing: The right jacket will keep you warm in any weather, but even in 50 degree weather a cheap thin sweatshirt won't work. That was clearly the wrong system or installed incorrectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once lived in northeast Florida, and it didn't heat our home well THERE.

What a liar.

Such anti heat pump hate!

Nope. It you want 70+, it never shuts off.

Modern heat pumps are supposed to run continuously and adjust their output. That's more efficient than turning on and off.

[Anonymous]

Heat pump works completely fine. That said, we keep the heat around 64 in the winter, and the southern windows get good sun on sunny days, so there it doesn't run that often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once lived in northeast Florida, and it didn't heat our home well THERE.

YEAH OK!!!

You know it's get cold, right? Yes, heat pumps struggle when it's below 30.

perhaps a heat pump from your childhood. they're much better now.

[Anonymous]

They might be better now than before, but they still are not great in winter cold in metro DC. Our HP really struggles just to maintain 68 F once the outside temp drops to about 20F. Ours is a major brand, high efficiency, and about 8 years old. House is heavily insulated - spray foam in walls, insulated windows and doors, etc.

A previous house had a better setup. 2 zones. Gas furnace was downstairs and HP upstairs. Heat rises of course, which meant warm air from gas furnace would rise to help keep upstairs warm. HP had optimal performance for summer cooling - and cooler air tends to fall.

[Anonymous]

The US Department of Energy along with the state governments of Massachusetts and New York just completed a major study of residential heat pump installations. The study is at:
https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Residential-ccASHP-Building-Electrification_060322.pdf

The report is 156 pages, you don't have to read the whole thing, but on page 12 they have summaries of surveys of customers who replaced a different heating system with an air-source heat pump (ASHP):

• Performance issues were uncommon with ASHPs and nearly all customers reported lower bills.
• Customers were highly satisfied with heating and cooling performance (8.5/10 for heating and 9.0/10 for cooling).
• These factors lead to an extremely high likelihood to recommend an ASHP to others (whole-home = 8.9/10 would recommend; primary w/ backup = 9.3/10)

Note that both states are quite a bit colder than DC.

[Anonymous]

Heat pumps are perfect for this climate here. Mine works fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They might be better now than before, but they still are not great in winter cold in metro DC. Our HP really struggles just to maintain 68 F once the outside temp drops to about 20F. Ours is a major brand, high efficiency, and about 8 years old. House is heavily insulated - spray foam in walls, insulated windows and doors, etc.

A previous house had a better setup. 2 zones. Gas furnace was downstairs and HP upstairs. Heat rises of course, which meant warm air from gas furnace would rise to help keep upstairs warm. HP had optimal performance for summer cooling - and cooler air tends to fall.

Derek Traxler, a computer repair technician from Minneapolis, told us that after his steam boiler broke, he installed a heat pump that has kept his home warm for the past four winters, including during extreme cold snaps, when temperatures dropped as low as minus 29° F. He posted a video to YouTube, captured with a thermal imaging camera, demonstrating exactly that. “The performance has been great,” Traxler says.

Of course, you’ll also find people who say that after spending tens of thousands of dollars on the installation, they’re left with a chilly home and sky-high utility bills. But that’s more likely to happen only if you end up with a contractor unfamiliar with heat pumps. Chances are, if you pick the right equipment for your home and your climate, make any recommended weather-sealing upgrades, and hire a reputable contractor with experience installing heat pumps, you should have a good outcome. (See our heat pump buying guide for additional advice on what to expect in the installation process.)

https://www.consumerreports.org/heat-pumps/can-heat-pumps-actually-work-in-cold-climates-a4929629430/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The US Department of Energy along with the state governments of Massachusetts and New York just completed a major study of residential heat pump installations. The study is at:
https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Residential-ccASHP-Building-Electrification_060322.pdf

The report is 156 pages, you don't have to read the whole thing, but on page 12 they have summaries of surveys of customers who replaced a different heating system with an air-source heat pump (ASHP):

• Performance issues were uncommon with ASHPs and nearly all customers reported lower bills.
• Customers were highly satisfied with heating and cooling performance (8.5/10 for heating and 9.0/10 for cooling).
• These factors lead to an extremely high likelihood to recommend an ASHP to others (whole-home = 8.9/10 would recommend; primary w/ backup = 9.3/10)

Note that both states are quite a bit colder than DC.

Some people still want gas heat and that is ok. It is different kind of heat that feels nicer. Environmentalist want to tell us what to do then just "we ask you to like what we want you to do change your mindset it is so easy" but that is not how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The US Department of Energy along with the state governments of Massachusetts and New York just completed a major study of residential heat pump installations. The study is at:
https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Residential-ccASHP-Building-Electrification_060322.pdf

The report is 156 pages, you don't have to read the whole thing, but on page 12 they have summaries of surveys of customers who replaced a different heating system with an air-source heat pump (ASHP):

• Performance issues were uncommon with ASHPs and nearly all customers reported lower bills.
• Customers were highly satisfied with heating and cooling performance (8.5/10 for heating and 9.0/10 for cooling).
• These factors lead to an extremely high likelihood to recommend an ASHP to others (whole-home = 8.9/10 would recommend; primary w/ backup = 9.3/10)

Note that both states are quite a bit colder than DC.

Some people still want gas heat and that is ok. It is different kind of heat that feels nicer. Environmentalist want to tell us what to do then just "we ask you to like what we want you to do change your mindset it is so easy" but that is not how it works.

In an old drafty house you will get cold spots and the hotter air of a gas furnace helps to make up for that. I have a new house that is well-insulated and there are no cold spots, I have heat pumps and I barely notice them at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The US Department of Energy along with the state governments of Massachusetts and New York just completed a major study of residential heat pump installations. The study is at:
https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Residential-ccASHP-Building-Electrification_060322.pdf

The report is 156 pages, you don't have to read the whole thing, but on page 12 they have summaries of surveys of customers who replaced a different heating system with an air-source heat pump (ASHP):

• Performance issues were uncommon with ASHPs and nearly all customers reported lower bills.
• Customers were highly satisfied with heating and cooling performance (8.5/10 for heating and 9.0/10 for cooling).
• These factors lead to an extremely high likelihood to recommend an ASHP to others (whole-home = 8.9/10 would recommend; primary w/ backup = 9.3/10)

Note that both states are quite a bit colder than DC.

Some people still want gas heat and that is ok. It is different kind of heat that feels nicer. Environmentalist want to tell us what to do then just "we ask you to like what we want you to do change your mindset it is so easy" but that is not how it works.

In an old drafty house you will get cold spots and the hotter air of a gas furnace helps to make up for that. I have a new house that is well-insulated and there are no cold spots, I have heat pumps and I barely notice them at all.

+1 this
It's not that gas heat "feels nicer" it's that it works better to warm a leaky house more evenly.