heat pump or gas pack? (rent, buying a home, buying)

[becklin]

We live in sussex county in a doublewide on perm. foundation, etc. Our ac just went up and I am very unhappy with our propane furnance (new in 2006). It is very loud and has been nothing but trouble since installed. So, we are considering changing the whole system since ac has to be replaced. Any thoughts on which is better? Heat pump or gas pack? I've had several people say heat pump is great and others that say it gets too cold here for a heat pump. Please help...we have to decide soon.

becky

[rockky]

Becky, I can only tell you my personal experience.

We built a vacation home in far eastern Sussex County in the late 1980s with a heat pump. It was to be used mainly as a summer home. We are now using it year round, and the heat pump does not keep up. There needs to be some sort of auxiliary heat source, and with the price of electricity in DE it's quite expensive when it needs to take over for the heat pump.

Perhaps they've improved over the years. I really don't know.

[texdav]

There are alot of different types of heat pump now that have more efficent backup for colder weather. But that might not be good enough efficency wise to make the overall cost work it in a cold climate. Goolge heat pump and see for yourself: or heating cost cpmaprisons.

[CaroleM]

When I first moved to Sussex County my place had a heat pump. I was never warm and in cold weather it just ran and ran and ran with no heat coming out of it. I finally got rid of it and went to gas. I now live part time in Kent County and have a doublewide with baseboard hot water heat (gas) and I love it. No heat pumps for me.

[rossc]

A heat pump works above 40 degrees, so in the winter months a heat pump would struggle to produce enough heat. With the high cost of electricity in DE and the rising cost of propane it would be a tough call. We heat all winter with a pellet stove. and use the central AC in the summer. We heat all year (winter) for about $300, which is about what my neighbor was spending each month for propane.

[maryCh]

When we lived in NC (very central part, not coastal), many of our friends and neighbors were converting their heat pump systems to gas pack. The house we rent has both... gas for heat, heat pump for A/C and electric (of course). I think our propane bill was out of line (compared to our current neighbors), but can't help with specific DE comparisons.

We too are looking into alternative methods of heating with the house we're buying later this summer. Its not an easy decision... and good luck with your choice!

Mary

[Summering]

Originally Posted by rossc

A heat pump works above 40 degrees, so in the winter months a heat pump would struggle to produce enough heat. With the high cost of electricity in DE and the rising cost of propane it would be a tough call. We heat all winter with a pellet stove. and use the central AC in the summer. We heat all year (winter) for about $300, which is about what my neighbor was spending each month for propane.

I love a pellet stove....as long as someone doesn't mind the lugging and storing of those 40 lb bags.
I have to say that the heat pumps are on many, many, homes in Myrtle
Beach and during Jan and Feb when it is 20s and 30s at night a good model works fine. I was completely surprised myself about that.
The older models.....do freeze up. But the new ones no one complains about. I do think Pellet stoves and Wood stoves save people a bunch of money.

[maryCh]

Hey Summering,

We are buying a home soon that is all electric, with heat pump as the "heat source". Can you private message me info on the pellet stove? I currently lug the 40 lb bags of salt for the water conditioner; suppose I could swap the contents of the bag. I mean, 40 lbs is 40 lbs, right????

Mary

[rossc]

Any of the fireplace stores will be able to set you up with a pellet stove. Depending on the size of the house, you may need two of them. We heat 900sq/ft with a single small stove. I couldn't imagine an all electric house in DE....Ouch.

[anniebleu]

Ross, I'm impressed and amazed that you can heat all winter for so few $$. That's great.

Also amazed that our bills for oil are about the same as your neighbor's propane per month. I thought, with our fairly large, 30 year old house, our oil was probably costing much more than propane. Is your neighbor's house large?