Mild Winters ?

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

checked noaa government weather site for temperature extremese by city

Where is this on their site? I find noaa to be one of the worst sites to navigate I have ever seen.

Appreciate it.

Here ya go:
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/...xtremelow.html

[jkmewright]

About that heat pump.... I have only 3 times in 7 years used my emergency heat strips however I would recommend an alternate heat source as well. You know, just for emergencies or very cold weather. I do not think I would go for natural gas as it went to over $2 a therm last winter. I agree w/dd714 our electric rates are cheap. I often wonder why most of us have heat pumps but it does seem to be the thing here. Musta been a TVA incentive LOL

[phalynx]

The emergency strips in a heat pump are the exact same as an electric heater. They use no more/less energy as a typical electric heater when used.

I lived in Nashville in the early 80's. We had several days of snow, melt, refreeze, snow, melt, repeat. I was out of school for over a week. For me, it was great!!!! I was a kid though. And, it did get to -15 that year.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by jkmewright

About that heat pump.... I have only 3 times in 7 years used my emergency heat strips however I would recommend an alternate heat source as well. You know, just for emergencies or very cold weather. I do not think I would go for natural gas as it went to over $2 a therm last winter. I agree w/dd714 our electric rates are cheap. I often wonder why most of us have heat pumps but it does seem to be the thing here. Musta been a TVA incentive LOL

Yes it is an incentive, for TVA and every electric CO. around..... not sure why. I moved from an old farm house with a gas furnace that I loved, even though gas for it was not the cheapest, because we were toasty warm even in the drafty old house. Now I live in a house built less than 10 years ago with a heat pump and I can't stand that darn thing! It always feels like luke warm air coming out of it and the electric bill can get really high!
Although on an appraisal, a house is worth MUCH more with the heat pumps, you actually get a value reduction if there is any other heat source! That I will never understand! Oh, we do also have the fireplace for when it is really cold.

[ML10950]

I will be building a new home in Eastern Tennessee next year, and doing a lot of research, especially on heating and cooling. Based on my research I believe Geothermal Heat Pumps are probably the most cost and energy efficent source of heat for the area. Instead of heating and cooling the outside air, it uses the constant temperature of the earth (around 50 degrees f) to heat and cool the inside air. Unlike traditional heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps work better in the extremes. There is more upfront money to install, but generally you re-coop the investment in five to ten years. Normally you can save 25-50% on heating and cooling cost. Attached is a link with more information.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/heatpumps.html

[hiknapster]

The record for Knoxville was 24 below on January 21, 1985.

Here is the link.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mrx/tys/tysnorms.php

[hiknapster]

Last year, it was fairly mild. Not too many days where it only got in the 30s and the lows in the 20s. Right now it is 17 in Knoxville. We are having a very cold winter.

I don't think your pipes will burst at 50 degrees. The problem is, I'm not sure.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by joez0927

I read and was told about the 'Mild Winters' in Tennesee.

This is why it's good to ask a question to elicit a data response and not a feelings response. Just like "Are the schools any good?" "Is it mild in the winter?" is in the eye of the beholder. But if you asked about temperatures and inches of snow, for example, you, not he, could decide if the winters are mild...or not, based on his answer.

I'm worried about melting in the summer because I don't know what 70% humidity, for example, feels like. I've never paid attention to humidity weather reports in the past to know at what humidity level I'm uncomfortable and I don't have a summer between now and my move to test that. Not making grand plans for a lot of outdoor events, my first summer in Tennessee until I know what humidity I can tolerate. The temps, on the other hand, are very similar to where I live now. Most days since September, they've only differed by a single degree or two and that's fine.

[jkmewright]

Originally Posted by ML10950

I will be building a new home in Eastern Tennessee next year, and doing a lot of research, especially on heating and cooling. Based on my research I believe Geothermal Heat Pumps are probably the most cost and energy efficent source of heat for the area. Instead of heating and cooling the outside air, it uses the constant temperature of the earth (around 50 degrees f) to heat and cool the inside air. Unlike traditional heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps work better in the extremes. There is more upfront money to install, but generally you re-coop the investment in five to ten years. Normally you can save 25-50% on heating and cooling cost. Attached is a link with more information.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/heatpumps.html

I agree on the idea of geothermal. We are putting in that kind of system in some of our new schools. Yes, it's going to cost more and the payoff is long term, but school buildings "live" a long time so we are looking forward to our investment. They have some in the counties close to us and their systems are amazing. It's definitely the way to go.