Educate Me Please!!!

underdog1753

I guess I am just not catching on to all of the information I am finding on the web.
I am in the process of picking a heating and airconditioning system for a home I am having built in central Pennsylvania.
I am against oil and gas for many reasons. I am thinkiing that a heat pump may be just the answer for what I want. My research thus far points me towards Trane name brand. I can not seem to comprehend what happens when the temperature gets below the economical level for a heat pump. Do I need to have a seperate furnace in order to keep my home comfortable or does a heat pump have a seperate system built in that takes over in the extreme cold? My home is only going to be a 1550 square foot ranch. Is it going to be too costly to use a heat pump? I dont mind the extra expense upfront if it is going to make it more economical in the long run. I don't want to be stuck with huge bills because of lack of planning on my part now.

Can a heat pump be hooked up in conjunction with an electric forced air furnace. Is this a feasable solution?

Any advise will be greatly appreciatted.

MechanicalDVR

A heat pump is typically installed with electric rack heat for times when it can't keep up with the building heat loss.

You should look into water source heat pumps, they are more money upfront for the waterside but they pay for themselves in the long run. You may even be able to get rebates from your electrical supplier and tax credits for installing one.

Check out Florida Heat Pump or Climate Master online.

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mdshunk

Absolutely. That's the typical solution. Matter of fact, your heat pump air handler normally comes from the factory with provisions to add the electric strip heat kit.

I'm in Central PA also, and you will absolutely need backup heat of some sort with a normal heat pump. Ground source, not so much, but it is sometimes advised for the event that the pumps and such fail during a cold day so that you have "something".

I'm not sure why you're against gas or oil, and it doesn't really matter, but I typically push for a gas furnace as the backup with the addition of a fossil fuel kit. Particularly if the home is served with gas anyhow for other gas appliances.

If cheap heat is what you're after, you can install an outside wood fired boiler and heat your house with hydronic. You can just apply for a fuel wood cutting permit from DER and get pretty much all you want.

MechanicalDVR

What do you guys pay per kilowatt hour there for electric?

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