[nmnita]

Originally Posted by TRex2

I don't suppose anyone has figured in the cost of replacing the compressor unit in a heat pump.
They only last so long...

That is a very good point. We replaced our unit about 18 months ago: $8,000 I think it was. All I know is I hated calling our investment broker and asking her to send us a check. Of course they do last form years and years.

[duke944]

Originally Posted by nmnita

That is a very good point. We replaced our unit about 18 months ago: $8,000 I think it was. All I know is I hated calling our investment broker and asking her to send us a check. Of course they do last form years and years.

Surely you had a brand new heat pump installed - I think a new compressor is around a quarter of that.

[TRex2]

For any particular combination of heat pump and propane system, there is a temperature, below which, the propane is more cost effective. If the price of electricity goes down, or the price of propane goes up, that temperature is lower, propane goes down, that temperature gets higher.

For planning purposes, I think engineers still use 38 Fahrenheit (that is what I used when I was in school), but it takes a lot of math to find the actual temperature. An ideal system will switch from pump to propane if the outside temp goes below that temp.

(For electric assisted heat pump, that temp is usually considered somewhere in the 20's, but considering the price of a new heat pump, I would go with 40 degrees for propane assist, and 35 for electric assist.)

[mgforshort]

One more question, please. And many thanks to all who takes time to reply.
In the upcoming spring, generally speaking, what would be the latest when driving on icy roads is still a possible concern?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by duke944

Surely you had a brand new heat pump installed - I think a new compressor is around a quarter of that.

yep, it was leaking in the attack and dripping into our bedroom. Seems water and us have a problem. The water likes to invade our house, we prefer it to stay outside.

BTW: yes a compressor is much cheaper. We have had to replace a couple in our lives.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

One more question, please. And many thanks to all who takes time to reply.
In the upcoming spring, generally speaking, what would be the latest when driving on icy roads is still a possible concern?

We Have had a bit of snow and/or ice as late as mid March here but for all practical purposes you can be pretty safe knowing from late March on the roads will be safe to drive on. Even if there is a late storm it will not, likely produce any really hectic driving conditions.