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You _should_ think about heat pumps for HVAC in your home, especially if it's well-insulated (if not, think about insulation and heat pumps). But you should buy
by jonstewart 7y ago
You _should_ think about heat pumps for HVAC in your home, especially if it's well-insulated (if not, think about insulation and heat pumps). But you should buy one made by Mitsubishi or Fujitsu, which are already amazing.
- jhloa2 7y agoOnly in certain climates though. Heat pumps typically perform poorly in colder climates where it's difficult to extract heat from low ambient outdoor temperatures. I work in HVAC and we almost never use them here in Denver because you can't get enough heat out of them when you need it the most.
- jonstewart 7y agoMitsubishi and Fujitsu both have models that are rated efficient down to -15F now, with anecdotal reports they can handle -25F.
- nitrogen 7y agoCan't you also (in new construction or remodels and not in permafrost areas) bury a heat exchanger underground?
- D13Fd 7y agoYes, they call this "geothermal" (although it's not like geothermal power generation). You can also use lakes and large ponds rather than burying it. I looked into it last year. The main problem is cost (in getting into the ground) and expertise. In my area at least, there are dozens of reasonably solid residential HVAC companies with extensive traditional heat pump experience, and zero with extensive geothermal experience.
- D13Fd 7y agoThey can be tough to get in some areas though, if you want to use a local supplier. I bought the best modern model available from HVAC companies in my area, and it resorts to backup electrical heat around 15F. But that's still fine for my climate (northeast US).