Most efficient heating system? (house, heat pump, cost)

[hjlacey]

Electric, Propane or Oil?
Will be moving down next year and will be building near the Tri-Cities.

[mbmouse]

It depends on what kind of house you are building. If you are building one with lots of open spaces and tall ceilings, stay away from the heat pumps, go for propane or oil. If low ceilings, go for electric, but I would suggest a regular unit. I have a heat pump and hate it. It goes 24/7 365. Sometimes it is just air, not cold and not hot so if I want to open up the windows and air out the house, our electric bill goes up. I had a oil furnace in my 1920 farm house in Greene County and I LOVED it. It might have been tough getting 140 gallons at a time but boy was that nice, warm heat. My folks have ventless gas inserts in there fire places, it is an old 1840 colonial that was 10 ft cellings and over 2500 sq ft. 3 units keep the house nice and warm, but it hurts them on the appraised value of the house. Heat pumps are the best value on comps. Don't ask me why, but that's the way it is.
Just my opinion tough

[phinz]

We run natural gas. Does a decent job. I wouldn't say it's *warm*, but then again we keep our air at 62 degrees in the winter.

[insanesmooch]

If you are building and can afford it, I'd look into solar. It is expensive to put in, but well worth it in the long run. Sometimes you can even generate enough power to sell it to the electric company.

Otherwise, I like heat pumps. Mine doesn't run constatnly. When we will be out all day, I just raise the temperature so the air will come on less and in the long run cost less. It doesn't take very long to get it back to a less stuffy temp.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by insanesmooch

Mine doesn't run constatnly. When we will be out all day, I just raise the temperature so the air will come on less and in the long run cost less.

What brand of heat pump do you have? I would love to replace mine with what ever one you have! hahahahaha I have tried and tried, we have had it looked, at and they say it is running properly but I can not get mine to stop running almost ALL the time. If the temp is correct it just blows air. not hot, not cold, just air! I have talked to at least 6 other people about heat pumps and they all say their's does the same thing.

[WA-to-TN]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

What brand of heat pump do you have? I would love to replace mine with what ever one you have! hahahahaha I have tried and tried, we have had it looked, at and they say it is running properly but I can not get mine to stop running almost ALL the time. If the temp is correct it just blows air. not hot, not cold, just air! I have talked to at least 6 other people about heat pumps and they all say their's does the same thing.

Get one with a higher SEER rating. I moved from a SEER of 12 to a 14 and saw a 10% reduction in my costs. I believe that code requires a minimum of 13 today, but these things have ratings to 19. Basically, you get more tubing coiling so the unit works less to produce what you need.

Otherwise, if the temperature is so cold that the heat pump is not able to get the heat you need, the electric or gas furnace kicks in.

I love mine. I have cool in the summer and efficient heat in the winter.

[insanesmooch]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

What brand of heat pump do you have? I would love to replace mine with what ever one you have! hahahahaha I have tried and tried, we have had it looked, at and they say it is running properly but I can not get mine to stop running almost ALL the time. If the temp is correct it just blows air. not hot, not cold, just air! I have talked to at least 6 other people about heat pumps and they all say their's does the same thing.

I'm not sure what it is. I will have to look and get back with you on that. The one my mom has runs like mine. While staying there, I had to keep adjusting the thermostat to get it to come on. Hers also has a shut off on the termostat, but I don't think mine does. My cold air is so cold that I freeze at times. I've not been here long enough to get to try the heat.

[rossc]

Look into geothermal heat pumps and geothermal radiant heat. The heat pump would give you heating and cooling and would probably be a good deal for the fairly mild climate in TN.

[mbmouse]

WOW! Thanks everyone, I will check into those and I appreciate you.

[hjlacey]

thanks for all your info on heating, and after researching, will probably go with the geothermal heat pumps.