Heat Pump, what one would you buy?

[DC980]

I'm kicking around the idea of replacing the heat pump that heats and cools the
upstairs part of the house. I know that there are units that are 19 SEER but is it worth
waiting another year or two for a unit that may exceed 20 SEER. When and what would
you buy? Any and all comments are welcome.

Kevin

[Ken Brice]

I am doing the same thing.. I have a Trane and everyone tells me to stick with that. I know they have a 19, but the two quotes I got, said I should go with the 16.. Wonder why Trane they skipped over 17 and 18 and went staight to the 19?? What the one guy told me, is the things they can put in the ground (geo somthing), is the next generation.. But it's so expensive, you won't get your money back for many many year..

As we boaters go through the same thing.. The price of gas, (4 stroke-2 stroke) which one is better.. Electric is the same, going up (way up) the last couple of years..

Good luck.. I am getting the 16 SEER.

[deepbluesea]

go with the 16 seer anything above that you will never recover the inital cost difference. the unit will need to be replaced est 5-7 years prior to your break even point.

[twobyfour]

The geo thermal systems are extremly effiecent, as indicated by their SEER rating, whcih is a measurement of their effienncy. The units themselves are not much more than conventional units, the main cost is associated with drilling of the wells. These systems basically use an underground radiator which consists of several closed loop wells and are more common in the south, although we are starting to install more of them in the house's I build in the middle penisula area. And I do agree it will take a rather long time, perhaps 10 years or more to realize any energy savings at which time you will liklely need some work done on your system, you will not have to drill more wells. All this is relevant to how much energy you use. If you have a large house to heat and cool, obviuosly you will get to your break even point sooner than if you have a smaller house.

Barry O'Connor
B. O'Connor Const
Custom Builder

[reelscreamer]

i do commerical a/c work dont waste your money on high seer units they dont save you a dime, there just more exspensive and you will never recover your money from them, geo units are real expensive but work better, just go with a 13 seer unit with the best warrenty. there all built with the same parts go with warrenty and price

[BUDC]

After 4 compressors in 3 heat pumps in 30 years, I gave up. Everyone else has 15 to 30+ year old heat pump setups except me. I am convinced there is a problem with something in my house that causes these premature failures. An added note, I used a wood stove exclusively when the outside temps got to below 40 degrees, so excessive wear was not a factor.
All that aside, last year when my new system(gas heat w/AC) was installed, I debated the higher AC SEER ratings with the dealer---a friend of many years. His comments were: * The higher SEERs are very new technically and very sensitive. *The rateing are basically achieved with mini-management of the system to squeeze the last BTU from the source. * The more there is to break, the more likely something will break. *Being so new, the inevitable "bugs" still needed to be worked out.
I questioned him regarding what he had installed in his new home the year before. He had used the 18 SEER that had been out for a year at the time with good success.
All this information is anolther full year old now and needs to be updated. The system is an American Standard(TRANE related) and is performing beautifully. The summer AC costs are reduced approxiamately 25% less than the Heat Pump. Winter is difficult to judge because of the wood stove, but I can tell you the gas bills have been in the $125 to $160 range with a high month in January of &188. Sure do miss the economy of the wood stove, but not work and mess.
I hope this is of some use to you. It doesn't parallel your system, but perhaps the SEER information will be helpful.
Good luck, cool summers and warm winters.
budc

[BUDC]

After 4 compressors in 3 heat pumps in 30 years, I gave up. Everyone else has 15 to 30+ year old heat pump setups except me. I am convinced there is a problem with something in my house that causes these premature failures. An added note, I used a wood stove exclusively when the outside temps got to below 40 degrees, so excessive wear was not a factor.
All that aside, last year when my new system(gas heat w/AC) was installed, I debated the higher AC SEER ratings with the dealer---a friend of many years. His comments were: * The higher SEERs are very new technically and very sensitive. *The rateing are basically achieved with mini-management of the system to squeeze the last BTU from the source. * The more there is to break, the more likely something will break. *Being so new, the inevitable "bugs" still needed to be worked out.
I questioned him regarding what he had installed in his new home the year before. He had used the 18 SEER that had been out for a year at the time with good success.
All this information is anolther full year old now and needs to be updated. The system is an American Standard and is performing beautifully. The summer AC costs are reduced approxiamately 25% less than the Heat Pump. Winter is difficult to judge because of the wood stove, but I can tell you the gas bills have been in the $125 to $160 range with a high month in January of $188. Sure do miss the economy of the wood stove, but not work and mess.
I hope this is of some use to you. It doesn't parallel your system, but perhaps the SEER information will be helpful.
Good luck, cool summers and warm winters.
budc

[BUDC]

Sorry about the doubles I tried to delete one of them and couldn't
Added note: American Standard and Trane are now one in the same.
budc

[hd232]

I just had a Hvac contractor I work with put in a Carrier 19 Seer. I don't know if I would have done it at full price to compare to cost savings , but the 2 stage compressor and variable speed fan sure makes it a lot nicer to run. I can hardly tell when it is running. I am running a 13 Seer Trane with variable speed fan on my upstairs zone and I can tell a difference between the two. If you are planning on living there for a while I would go with the higher seer rating.

[headnut]

Carrier has up to a 21 seer out now. Trane , Carrier, and York are the top brands on the market, you will pay more for a Trane than the other two. I think Carrier has the best bang for the buck and York is a quality unit that will not let you down. What really matters is how much money are you willing to spend, how long you plan on living where you are, and make sure you are comfortable with the person or company who is installing the work for you. I would go out and get three quotes with comparible systems, then make your decision. You should see some saving going with the higher seer. Work is slow right now and people are hungry in this industry, soon as summer starts they will be slammed...

[shoot-straight]

i had a york unit put in my new house. its quiet, and i have had no problems. get a model with a 2 stage compresser and variable speed air handler. the most efficient models have gas backup heat. if you have access, its very nice. electric backup can get pricy.

york had some quality control problems a few years back, but seemed to work them out. also. do it sooner rather than later, the prices of steel, copper and alumnium for the units goes up daily. so does the price.

[anglerdave]

I had a 13 seer installed a couple of years ago and had a lot of trouble t first but finally got the bugs worked out. I have oil back-up (no gas on street). I am wondering if I shoould have gone with propaane because of the price of oil. I typically burn about 300 gallons of oil up here in Pa which is ccolder than say Noorfolk.
On thing for sure is to get a contractor who knows whaT he is doing because heat pump controls are tricky.
DAVE

[flames]

we have been instaling alot of the carrier infinity systems(21 seer)and they are worth the money if you plan on staying in your home for a while. 13 seer is now the new standard rating so anyway you go you will cut energy costs regardless. also I reccomend going with the new refrigerant 410 and not r22 because they are stopping the manufacture of all r22 produts in less than 2 years so if you need a charge of r22 it will cost lots of $$$ also go with a 7 day programmable thermostat such as the honeywell pro 8000. it is extremely user friendly and will further enhance your energy efficiency.

[BBCroaker]

What is the cost of R22 now?

[flames]

I havent chraged a r22 sysytem up this year yet still waiting on that first heat wave! but the cost per drum has about tripled as of a few weeks ago and keeps rising daily so i would say around 40-50 $ per lb roughly

[Ballzzz]

Carrier has up to a 21 seer out now. Trane , Carrier, and York are the top brands on the market, you will pay more for a Trane than the other two. I think Carrier has the best bang for the buck and York is a quality unit that will not let you down. What really matters is how much money are you willing to spend, how long you plan on living where you are, and make sure you are comfortable with the person or company who is installing the work for you. I would go out and get three quotes with comparible systems, then make your decision. You should see some saving going with the higher seer. Work is slow right now and people are hungry in this industry, soon as summer starts they will be slammed...

Lennox is the best, it's the only hvac manufactuer to carry the good house keeping seal and if installed right will last 15 20 yrs easy
Not an opinion

[BUDC]

My lennox system lasted 11 years and needed a compressor in the middle of those. The Janitrol and the General Electric made 11 and 12 years. :wacko: Good and bad in all of them.

I'm out of the heat pump world with gas heat and 15 SEER AC -- American Standard(Trane). Sure hope it proves more durable!?!?!?

NOT an opinion. ;-)
budc

[Ken Brice]

I am doing the same thing.. I have a Trane and everyone tells me to stick with that. I know they have a 19, but the two quotes I got, said I should go with the 16.. Wonder why Trane they skipped over 17 and 18 and went staight to the 19?? What the one guy told me, is the things they can put in the ground (geo somthing), is the next generation.. But it's so expensive, you won't get your money back for many many year..

As we boaters go through the same thing.. The price of gas, (4 stroke-2 stroke) which one is better.. Electric is the same, going up (way up) the last couple of years..

Good luck.. I am getting the 16 SEER.

Had my 16 SEER installed in Dec and it's already saving me $$$... For the last 3 months, I have used on the average of 30 percent less KW than last year. Even though the price of power has went up, it's still saving me $$.. When the heat comes on, it's really warm not cold. The compressor starts first, after it get warm the air starts to blow.

TRANE.

[Capt.Nick]

I bought a Carrier a year ago and if I can reccemend one add on,it's a good humidifier w/filter.During winter it adds up to 45% humidity.This has stopped all static electricity,dust particles that you'll see through your window on a sunny day,and if you have ever had nose bleeds from dry forced air...you won't have that any more either.Another advantage to humidity in winter is you can lower your thermostat setting 3-4 deg. and still feel just as comfortable as you will at at higher setting without one.I used to feel chilly at 70 deg.with my old unit,now we feel just as comfortable at 66-67 deg.with the humidity turned up to 45%.I also like the carrier,s variable speed fan that starts out on slow speed then slowly raises rpms.this puts out more warm air.Example..your body's a heat pump.Blow easily in your hand ,nice & slow.your results...warm air.Now...blow harder...results....cooler air ,yet the temperature in your body is the same.The principle is the same on a variable speed motor.You get warmer air coming from your ducts because of slower,gradual air.