Standard air-source heat pump

[ejm1961Tbird]

I live in an area with a moderate climate. Many homes are heated/cooled with standard air-source heat pumps. Are any of you heating/cooling your garage with this type of heat pump? How is it working for you? Did you run the ductwork along the ceiling? Thanks.

 

[thooks]

If you'd fill out your profile with location, it would help....

The newer air source heat pumps with R410a refrigerant perform much better than the pieces of junk formerly known as heat pumps putting out 84°F air at 40°F ambient.

I have seen air source heat pumps with R410a produce good heat down to 0°F. They mimic gas-fired furnaces today.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Thanks. I lived in east Tennessee, near Knoxville.

 

[WVBrady]

Check out the threads here on mini-splits. I don't have one yet, but that is what I am planning on getting. They work much better at low temps than they used to.

 

[Mike in Indiana]

Had a Goodman 4 ton heat pump unit installed in my 40x60x14 well insulated steel building this summer. Did a great job of cooling and dehumidifying. AC usage this summer was minimal. Averaged $40 a month. This fall I kept the shop at 65. Mild fall not very cold.(Northeast Indiana) I have a Reznor radiant tube as my backup heater. So far the heat pump has done well.This winter will be the true test.

 

[1BADLS1tuner]

I agree a goodman is decent quality and is priced extremely reasonable... You can get a complete spilt system for less than what most spend on just a heater and it will be alot more efficient!

 

[Jackfre]

If you go with a central hp, make sure you do get one of the 410a units. The higher temps and pressures 410a works at have dramatically improved performance of the equip. Get some spiral duct run along the ceiling center and point your registers down about 30-45* depending upon width of the place and you should be good to go. Use good pleated filters on your air handler and figure in the pressure drop.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Thanks for the great feedback guys, I appreciate it.

 

[admiraljkb]

Check out the threads here on mini-splits. I don't have one yet, but that is what I am planning on getting. They work much better at low temps than they used to.

I can give a testimonial to the mini-splits. I ended up ripping out my central furnace/air and went with Mini-Splits through the house. Compressor and all at the end of a 110F day uses less energy than the blower motor alone of the old AC. Not to mention I regained two attics worth of storage, and a storage closet and a half inside the house, and was able to raise one short ceiling as a result of getting rid of all the space sucking ductwork and inside furnace. Still haven't gotten around to installing one in the garage, but it is coming... It used to be kinda avante garde in the US, but Home Depot sells the Mitsubishi's now.

For heat, I had no issues with heat with it being 5F outside this last winter.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Thanks again for your experience, admiral, here and on the mini-split thread.