Heat pumps - pros/cons?

Does anyone have any experience with the newer Mitsubishi heat pump technology that supposedly provides sufficient heating even in cold water down to -15 degrees? We are trying to figure out if such heat pumps would be a good method of heating to replace our steam boiler/radiators that we currently have.

4668squarefeet

in Renovation 11 years and 9 months ago

3

Please log in, in order to post replies!

3 replies

Newest Oldest

nycdesignerr | 11 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4850 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4891 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179808"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(12) "nycdesignerr"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BQo4Y7x4x/0OMtMuRK0/bLoqvrZh7m1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(12) "nycdesignerr"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "a_ms_rose@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:42:07"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(12) "nycdesignerr"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179808)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

The small heat pump systems are best for small additions. If you have a boiler and radiator system, you have one of the most humanly comfortable systems there is. Heat pumps don’t provide that warm radiant experience. Look at air sealing the home first. Insulation second. Those will have a bigger impact on your comfort and utility bill than changing heating systems. Changing over should be a VERY distant third after you’ve well addressed the first two issues.

eman134 | 11 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4865 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4866 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "177006"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "eman134"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BaRrlDjFBcYAeDJ9.lwOTJ9pQC9nsT."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "eman134"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "errol832000@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(29) "http:///forums/users/eman134/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:55"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "eman134"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(177006)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If your house is hyperinsulated, including double windows….maybe you can get away with a heat pump. That is the only circumstance in NYC that I have seen it work. Of course, your electric costs will skyrocket in extremely cold conditions. As brucef said go gas fired hydronic…of course realize that I am biased since I install gas fired boilers and in fact am on my 2nd oil to gas conversion for brucef

brucef | 11 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4869 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4855 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "4724"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BBW3UzNM8B1w6uproJMdiiw1vnHriz1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "bruce@jerseydata.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/brucef/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:13:36"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(4724)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

As I have remarked before, heat pump supplied heat doesn’t really feel like heat, and when you need it the most, it’s even worse unless you use electric resistant add-ons. Shoulder seasons, blech. Dead of winter, not even technically adequate. Maybe in Virginia. I am Fujitsu and “Sanyo” certified, and I’ve heard what they say, but, we have never found it to be true. Mayhaps if your home was super insulated and didn’t really need heat??? If you want to be comfortable in your own home, go hydronic gas fired. They are basically giving natural gas away these days. The future???