Heat Pump (Cincinnati, Harrison: costs, law, office)

[Hard water]

I am currently researching the use of a heat pump in the Cincinnati (Harrison) area. Any experience in how effective a heat pump is along with how efficient they operate.

I have been considering the Trane (XL20i) the unit will probably be a 3.5 ton outside unit with a 4 ton air handler with a 20KW electric heat kit for supplemental and emergency heat'

I have also been going to check out a cold weather heat pump but supposedly only (2) company's manufacture them. The question is what company's

Any input will be greatly appreciated

[Wilson513]

I'd post this over in the "House" forum. FWIW, I don't like heat pumps. I have one in the office and it seems to work really hard in the winter. And, the electric heat is on a lot which can't be good $$$wise.

[kjbrill]

Heat pumps are reasonably efficient in this area. My experience is cooling actually costs more than heat over a period of years. Our winters are typically of shorter duration than the cooling season. So I would get the highest efficiency available on both the cooling and heating side.

Unless someone has discovered a new law of thermodynamics I would seriously doubt a so-called cold weather heat pump.

We had some short periods this past winter when the toaster would definitely make the electric meter spin. If you have natural gas available I would consider a lower cost and efficiency gas furnance as the secondary heat source over the toaster. The air handler should be common. Given the variations in our winters even a low efficiency gas furnace should average out superior over the toaster over time.

My last choice was a high efficiency air conditioner and a high efficiency gas furnance as I have natural gas available. If I was doing it over I would select a high efficiency heat pump and the high efficiency gas furnace. As fuel costs continue to rise, and we maybe haven't seen anything yet, you need everything working for you. If available, you need to balance the cost of electricity over the cost of gas.

Two of the biggest mistakesI have made was waiting far too many years to replace the terrible development grade energy-inefficient windows I had plus the antique air conditioner and furnace.

One of the things which always concerned me about a heat pump was if it is doing twice the work, cooling and heat, will it last half as long. I am aware good advances have been made in the compressors used in heat pumps and their realiability has increased. But I also have acquaintances who have replaced their heat pumps (no natural gas) on a frequency I consider excessive.

I am not advocating a specific manufacturer. But this much I know, warranty should be at least 10 years parts and labor. If they won't give you this, call someone else.