4 ms·

I am extremely sceptical of this claim. I have had a heat pump installed in November (UK), and my estimates from over the winter is that it cost me less to run

I am extremely sceptical of this claim. I have had a heat pump installed in November (UK), and my estimates from over the winter is that it cost me less to run than my (admittedly old and inefficient) gas boiler. As it was probably past time to replace the boiler, it would not have been a bad move even without government incentives. The incentives made it a no-brainer. My house is reasonably well insulated as the previous owner did do that upgrade, and that might be a necessary first step before switching to a heat pump. Even on gas, though, you will save a lot by upgrading the insulation.

jl6 4y ago
How do you handle ventilation? Do you need to trap warm air in the house by keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible to avoid defeating insulation?
- goodcanadian 4y ago
  I am not sure I understand the question. Yes, I keep the doors and windows closed in the winter; it is cold outside. Do you normally leave them open? Ultimately, I am getting the same total heat from the heat pump as I was from the boiler (kind of by definition).
  - jl6 4y ago
    I often open windows even in winter to get fresh air circulating through the house. Not all day, but not just for a few minutes either. It gets stuffy otherwise. I am also motivated by these types of concerns: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/ventilation-buildings-breathe https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/ventilation-buildings...
    - danans 4y ago
      You should consider adding an active ventilation system, which turns on periodically. This can be as simple as a bath fan on a timer with a make-up air opening elsewhere in the house. If you are concerned about the inherent heat loss that comes with ventilation, consider installing a heat (or energy) recovery ventilator, which uses a heat exchanger to recycle a large portion of the heat while also introducing fresh air into the house. If you are in the UK or the US Northeast you probably experience worse stuffiness because the dominant method of heating is hydronic which doesn't circulate or filter air.

jl6 4y ago

How do you handle ventilation? Do you need to trap warm air in the house by keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible to avoid defeating insulation?

goodcanadian 4y ago
I am not sure I understand the question. Yes, I keep the doors and windows closed in the winter; it is cold outside. Do you normally leave them open? Ultimately, I am getting the same total heat from the heat pump as I was from the boiler (kind of by definition).
- jl6 4y ago
  I often open windows even in winter to get fresh air circulating through the house. Not all day, but not just for a few minutes either. It gets stuffy otherwise. I am also motivated by these types of concerns: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/ventilation-buildings-breathe https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/ventilation-buildings...
  - danans 4y ago
    You should consider adding an active ventilation system, which turns on periodically. This can be as simple as a bath fan on a timer with a make-up air opening elsewhere in the house. If you are concerned about the inherent heat loss that comes with ventilation, consider installing a heat (or energy) recovery ventilator, which uses a heat exchanger to recycle a large portion of the heat while also introducing fresh air into the house. If you are in the UK or the US Northeast you probably experience worse stuffiness because the dominant method of heating is hydronic which doesn't circulate or filter air.