Please explain a basic function with heating

[remagenman]

Can you just run the furnace in the winter and not the outside heat pump at the same time?

The house came only with a heating furnace but I had a new furnace and heat pump installed to get air conditioning for the summer. Well, the heat pump runs all year round now and was wondering if this is normal or am I putting undue stress on the heat pump by working year round?

Thanks.

 

[gmcgeo]

Depends on what you have, is it a gas back up furnace? or strictly a heat pump

 

[remagenman]

Depends on what you have, is it a gas back up furnace? or strictly a heat pump

There was an old furnace that came with the house only, for heat, so I am assuming it was the primary heat source. I got a heat pump installed for cooling and replaced the old furnace.

I don't remember the installers telling me if they have to be used together during the winter.

So I am not confusing anyone or myself, the heat pump is that big *** fan outside the house.

 

[gmcgeo]

ok, so when i asked if its a gas furnace back up.... meaning do you have propane or natural gas feeding it also..... or if not then its fully electric.?

heat pump is out side and then you have your Handler inside.

need to know what it is... can not give you an answer with your info provided

 

[remagenman]

Thanks for the clarification, that's why I ask these questions. I didn't know what a handler was/is.

Saying that, could of they installed only an air handler when I asked for a heat furnace?

I have natural gas.

 

[gmcgeo]

So it sounds like a heat pump and natural gas back up, the gas kicks on when the temp gets down to 35 - 40deg.

so heat pump would run above 40 deg

 

[remagenman]

So it sounds like a heat pump and natural gas back up, the gas kicks on when the temp gets down to 35 - 40deg.

so heat pump would run above 40 deg

Thank you, just remembered that's what they told me also. Dang CRS disease has me forgetting stuff.

 

[gmcgeo]

No problem

 

[red94chev]

I believe they call that a dual fuel system if you do in fact have a NG furnace along with the heat pump.

 

[PoorUB]

You have a heat pump/AC unit outside. It should heat your house to roughly 30F, maybe lower, maybe higher. without specifics we won't know. Lower than 30F the furnace should run.
Just to confuse things, are you on natural gas or propane? It might not pay to run the heat pump at all on natural gas!

 

[JbTech]

I just had a heat pump installed this last fall. I run on heat pump until the pump can't keep up, then the propane kicks in. It has tried to keep up as low as 5 degrees.

Surely details on model # and brand would be more helpful in providing details.

 

[PoorUB]

I just had a heat pump installed this last fall. I run on heat pump until the pump can't keep up, then the propane kicks in. It has tried to keep up as low as 5 degrees.

Surely details on model # and brand would be more helpful in providing details.

I would not run it that low. your other fuel source is probably less money per BTU long before that!

My buddy just had new furnaces and heat pumps put it,. The new units will run down to something like 10F, but the company told him the balance point, price wise for change over on propane is around 30F.

I also ran the numbers and agreed with that number.

 

[JbTech]

I would not run it that low. your other fuel source is probably less money per BTU long before that!

My buddy just had new furnaces and heat pumps put it,. The new units will run down to something like 10F, but the company told him the balance point, price wise for change over on propane is around 30F.

I also ran the numbers and agreed with that number.

Thanks for the heads up! Everything I've read said to switch to emergency heat if you are
A: Uncomfortable
B: Wanting to shorten how often the outdoor unit runs.

Some have mentioned having positive results down to 0' or lower.

We replaced indoor and outdoor units with Goodman heat pump/ AC combo, with propane backup.
I will keep an eye on potential temps to monitor.

 

[PoorUB]

Thanks for the heads up! Everything I've read said to switch to emergency heat if you are
A: Uncomfortable
B: Wanting to shorten how often the outdoor unit runs.

Some have mentioned having positive results down to 0' or lower.

We replaced indoor and outdoor units with Goodman heat pump/ AC combo, with propane backup.
I will keep an eye on potential temps to monitor.

As the outdoor temp drops the heat pump efficiency drops. Sure they are 300% at 50F but at 10F they are probably 1 to 1 so every dollar you spend on electricity you get one dollar's worth the BTU out of the unit, just like straight electric heat. Around 30F the price for propane closely matches the price for electricity, BTU wise so it is better to change over the the propane furnace. Now, without specifics I might be off a few degrees, but I would bet it would be cheaper to heat with propane below 30F - 20F.
Just because you get heat out of them doesn't mean it is good to run them!

My dad has a heat pump, but is on natural gas and it doesn't pay for him to run it at any temperature, unless natural gas gets out of hand.

 

[FMB4]

Yep, 30 degrees is about the maximum low that the typical heat pump can keep up with in my experience (CA Bay Area).

 

[gmcgeo]

It depends what the outdoor temp sensor is set at, you can change it for the gas to kick in