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    Carinrc's Avatar
    Carinrc Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Nov 2, 2008, 02:06 PM
    Furnace and/or heat pump
    My uncle has just had to replace his furnace that is 12 years old because they said it was an off brand and it was just worn out.

    Now they tell him that his electric bill will be much higher unless he puts a heat pump in.

    Do you use a furnace and heat pump together or are they just trying to take an elderly man?

    Thanks
    hvac1000's Avatar
    hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435
    Heating & Air Conditioning Expert
    		  
    #2

    Nov 2, 2008, 03:17 PM
    H heat pump will save money on the utility bill.

    What kind of furnace does he have now? Gas Electric oil??
    Carinrc's Avatar
    Carinrc Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Nov 3, 2008, 01:41 PM
    He has and electric heat pump now.

    Does a furnace and heat pump work hand in hand together?

    Please help!

    Thanks,
    Caring
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
    Uber Member
    		  
    #4

    Nov 3, 2008, 01:53 PM

    A heat pump usually is installed with emergency heat or strip heaters in the duct. I don't know if this is what they are talking about. The HP usually doesn't work near freezing temperatures, so the backup heat kicks in. The HP and the electric can operate together or separate. Usually this is determined by an outdoor sensor and the thermost. The outdoor sensor locks out the heat pump below a certain temperature.
    Carinrc's Avatar
    Carinrc Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Nov 3, 2008, 01:56 PM
    What I am wanting to know is if they just put in an electric furnace does he need a heat pump also?
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #6

    Nov 3, 2008, 02:04 PM

    Do the heat pump. It is much more efficient and will save lots of money on the electric bill. You do not want an electric furnace.

    This should answer your question.

    Heat pump - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    The electric bill for a heat pump might be 1/4 that of resistance heat. See why you don't want just an electric furnace. Payback will be very quick.
    Carinrc's Avatar
    Carinrc Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Nov 3, 2008, 02:24 PM

    Okay, thank you. Now I understand that it is more efficient to run a heat pump instead of a furnace.

    Should they have put in a new furnace if they were going to put in a heat pump?
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
    Uber Member
    		  
    #8

    Nov 3, 2008, 02:30 PM

    Climate determines whether a real furnace is required. Usually strip heaters are installed, so you can get heat when the temperature outside is near freezing. At some temperature, the heat pump fails to operate. As the temperature gets lower, it gets harder to extract heat from outside. This is why supplimental heat is usually required.
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