Anonymous
Post 02/04/2026 11:24     Subject: Re:Heat pump in next week's weather
Upstairs we have a separate heat pump with those electric heat strips for backup and if it gets below 25 or so I turn the thermostat down to 62 and switch to oil radiators in the bedrooms. No way am I using the equivalent of a whole-house space heater to heat the whole upstairs, it would cost a fortune in this weather. I can live with chilly halls (and unfortunately a chilly bathroom) but its way more cost-effective to keep the bedrooms warm with those radiators--which work great--than the "emergency" heat. I guess we could get a little space heater for the bathroom but it mainly encourages everyone to be efficient when brushing or they just use a downstairs toilet.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2026 06:46     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:Our first two homes had a heat pump and we were always cold in the winter and our electric bill was ridiculous when auxiliary heat had to kick in. Granted we currently live in the Midwest, so winters are much colder than DC. Our current house has gas and it makes winter so much more bearable. The house heats up much faster and the air does not get as dry. The air blowing out is also toasty warm. I don't think I would ever go back to a heat pump.


Same. Gas is 100% better. It is insane that electric heat pumps are even a thing. They don't work below freezing when you need them the most??

Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 22:03     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Our first two homes had a heat pump and we were always cold in the winter and our electric bill was ridiculous when auxiliary heat had to kick in. Granted we currently live in the Midwest, so winters are much colder than DC. Our current house has gas and it makes winter so much more bearable. The house heats up much faster and the air does not get as dry. The air blowing out is also toasty warm. I don't think I would ever go back to a heat pump.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 06:44     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:It’s cold and a pipe froze in my garage [/quote

Say more. I've never experienced this and I'm curious what happens when a pipe freezes and then the aftermath.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 19:30     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
It’s cold and a pipe froze in my garage
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 19:08     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Another problem with heat pumps is they wear out faster than an ac gas furnace combo because the are always running
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 18:57     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
I hate heat pumps they are terrible even the new ones. They don't heat well under 25 and we have a brand new good one in our mountain house built in the 2000s with good insulation that is all electric the strips go on and the bill has been very high. At our home in Virginia we built it and demanded all gas on all floors and it's great no issuesm
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 18:52     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:We have a "modern" one and it struggles when the temps go below freezing.



Agrees. Our thermostat says 57 right now. I’ve had technicians out and it is appropriately sized and working. We have an old, drafty house. Working on weather proofing but it is a never ending task.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2026 21:32     Subject: Re:Heat pump in next week's weather
Ours is great. Even in 30 below wind-chill we're toasty. Chicago.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2026 20:09     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor recently bought my former neighbor's house, one year ago. He had no idea what a heat pump was. He's been struggling, and been using his electric fireplace and space heaters. This is a new heat pump.

He was shocked when I told him that most houses on the street have gas now, although they were all originally all electric. Gas was brought to the street in the 90s... I think I know why.


The likely problem here is the design of the system and the insulation of the house. Our heat pump in an end unit DC rowhouse has been having no issues this week.


In many houses the cost of making the house heat pump friendly can be quite high. Each house is different. We were not in a position to gut our house to improve all the insulation and put in new ductwork, so we got a heat pump and an auxiliary gas furnace and replaced the insulation in the attic. The heat pump works great when the temps are above 35F. Below that the furnace kicks in and does not generate astronomical electricity bills.


Our end unit row house is 130 years old and not very well insulated either and the heat pump is somehow managing just fine. I just checked and the auxiliary heat did not even kick in in the last two days which honestly surprises me. In a new build with proper insulation a high quality heat pump would be a no brainer for me due to its much higher energy efficiency. That is if I had to do air. In Europe radiant underfloor heating is the gold standard and it is way more comfortable than forced air. That would be my first choice if comfort is the main priority.


I am so glad both of our HVAC systems are working well. However, I wish you weren't so insistent about what type of system other people should have and that if it isn't working it is because they did it wrong. Get over yourself.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2026 16:29     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
It would be helpful if people are a bit more specific on what they have - are these "cold climate" or "hyper heat" heat pumps with NO gas furnace backup, or heat pumps with a gas furnace backup?
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2026 10:13     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor recently bought my former neighbor's house, one year ago. He had no idea what a heat pump was. He's been struggling, and been using his electric fireplace and space heaters. This is a new heat pump.

He was shocked when I told him that most houses on the street have gas now, although they were all originally all electric. Gas was brought to the street in the 90s... I think I know why.


The likely problem here is the design of the system and the insulation of the house. Our heat pump in an end unit DC rowhouse has been having no issues this week.


In many houses the cost of making the house heat pump friendly can be quite high. Each house is different. We were not in a position to gut our house to improve all the insulation and put in new ductwork, so we got a heat pump and an auxiliary gas furnace and replaced the insulation in the attic. The heat pump works great when the temps are above 35F. Below that the furnace kicks in and does not generate astronomical electricity bills.


Our end unit row house is 130 years old and not very well insulated either and the heat pump is somehow managing just fine. I just checked and the auxiliary heat did not even kick in in the last two days which honestly surprises me. In a new build with proper insulation a high quality heat pump would be a no brainer for me due to its much higher energy efficiency. That is if I had to do air. In Europe radiant underfloor heating is the gold standard and it is way more comfortable than forced air. That would be my first choice if comfort is the main priority.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2026 08:43     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:Im freezing my tail off


Layer up and wear a hat even indoors.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 22:15     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Im freezing my tail off
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 21:29     Subject: Heat pump in next week's weather
Anonymous wrote:We have a heat pump in an old house. We turned it down to 66 degrees. We have a wood burning fire place. So far so good. Our house is small. Also, humidifiers help.


Same, we put in pellet stoves to complement the heat pump, have dual plane windows, heating bill still high with these low temps.