Bumping for Winter '23; $5 heating oil and $.40 utility rates. Otherwise going though same thing, but also want to share
https://ashp.neep.org/#!/product_list/ You may need to register, but with model numbers can find the heat pumps that both heat to near capacity, at -13F to 5F, and how efficiently (COP) they do it. We need to get away from crazy generalizations. There's some great equipment out there.
Personally, with a heat pump hot water heater already installed and using about a third the watts of a ~4,500 watt element, I don't doubt heat pumps can do the $avings for our Boston area home. Mitsubishi pushes rated tonnage, these days, all the way down to 5F on the units that stay about 75% effective even at -13F. They do this at COPs of 2X, or twice the efficiency of resistance (up to 6x, at 47F). And like the "hybrid" water heater can ultimately use its element, the home's oil system is likely to remain intact. A second A/C only ducted attic unit will be the last 2 tons, of a ~6 ton system, sized for 3000sq ft. Experience shows 2 ton can cool the whole house.
I am down to search for how bad the cold spots might be (bathroom), if we follow through with a 2x18k btu floor mount setup? Yeah, MS's do blow air constantly, but two diagonal corners of a 2000sq ft downstairs? Anyway, I'm learning many don't regret their "backup" and appreciate people's candor. We may swap one of the wall units, for a ducted mini split air handler if cold spots get too bad in the adjacent rooms (D-rm,bath). The problem I see with some HVAC shops is they don't want the labor. "Ductless" can be a business model that compromises distribution for single-point horsepower. In a labor shortage, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. No one told me about ducted mini-splits, which are effectively mini-air handlers that can re-purpose vents, 2-3 rooms at a time. All going back to a condsenser feeding typical heads, as well. Just takes toil.
