this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2024
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From what I understand, you only use a heat pump until the outside temp reaches 0c, maybe -5c. Below that you go back to using the furnace.
One of the big draws of a heat pump is pumping heat "out" of the house in summer instead of running an air conditioner. If you get a chilly spring night, the heat pump should maintain the house temp without running the furnace. Supposedly it does both of these more economically than running an AC and furnace, but it is not a replacement for a furnace.
Senville claims that some models are good to -30C. Even their "cheap" stuff seems to be good to -15 or -20
Mine works down to -25 or -30C, then the electric heat coil in the furnace kicks in.
Good to hear. As soon as we can afford it, we'll be installing one.
The subsidy doesn't cover us because we're in a mobile home. If we get someone to pull the axles off, we'd qualify, but that's yet more money.
Theres a subsidy?
The federal government has one that is part of their Greener Homes Program. I believe there's also an Oil to Heat pump program.
We took a look at it for our place in Calgary when we installed our air conditioning, but the incentive was for around 5k. The provincial government doesn't offer anything here, so the A/C unit we looked at was about $4,500 done and dusted for a 2.5 ton name brand vs. about $12,500 for a heat pump. I'll tell you, if the subsidy would have covered another $1.5 to 2k, I would have taken a much much more serious look at it, just for even the AC aspect alone. Or if the province offered anything, but it's all oil and gas here, and the provincial government is much too busy lining their own pockets and the pockets of their supporters with single sourced procurements, but anyways
My FIL, who lives in Southern Ontario, put one in and loves it. He said it was a slam dunk decision with the subsidies, as there are both provincial and federal ones there I believe.
12.5k? Ouch. What size house?
1600sq ft. We need a cold climate pump, which is more expensive.
In the short term, it might make more sense to spend some money on insulation... My uncle lived in one in Northern Ontario, and even though it was skirted and sheltered by the forest around him, the fuel costs each winter were punishing.
Already done! :)