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> Heat pumps don't go where the furnace is. They certainly can. Are you thinking heat pumps only come as mini-splits? Drop-in replacement of the furnace is l

> Heat pumps don't go where the furnace is. They certainly can. Are you thinking heat pumps only come as mini-splits? Drop-in replacement of the furnace is likely the cheaper option when replacing an existing gas furnace over a multi-head system.

hwillis 4y ago
Okay? They virtually always are outside, because it's far more difficult to put a unit in a basement. Heat pumps need outside air and a furnace typically has a single 2" PVC pipe to the outside. That's very far from sufficient. If you have a furnace it's trivial to have it left in place.
- thinkcontext 4y ago
  I don't think you understand what a heat pump is or how they work. Its an air conditioner that can run in reverse. So in the centralized case like we are discussing, the outside part is the compressor, the inside part does a heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air handling system and then on to the duct work. Air is not moved from outside to inside via PVC or other method. Refrigerant (freon in older systems, more obscure names now) moves from outside to inside via a small copper pipe.
  - hwillis 4y ago
    Air handlers are not heat pumps. An air handler can be put in place of a furnace, but it certainly does not have to. If you have a furnace, it's trivial to have it left in place.
    - thinkcontext 4y ago
      I didn't say air handlers are heat pumps, I said the product of the heat pump are passed off to the air handler. But again you seem confused about basic terminology about the subject you are talking about. > An air handler can be put in place of a furnace, but it certainly does not have to. An air handler just moves air around, it doesn't replace a furnace. Its an essential part of a central heating / cooling system regardless of whether its attached to a heat pump, gas furnace or anything else. I'm not sure why you keep doubling down on speaking authoritatively about something you don't understand. Why don't you read a basic intro and then you'll understand?
      - hwillis 4y ago
        > > Heat pumps don't go where the furnace is. > They certainly can. I am responding to what you said.
falcolas 4y ago
Heat pumps can also replace the AC heat exchanger in a home HVAC setup. It’s what we did. We’ll have gas backup for when winter sucks, but otherwise we’ll use the heat exchanger.

hwillis 4y ago

Okay? They virtually always are outside, because it's far more difficult to put a unit in a basement. Heat pumps need outside air and a furnace typically has a single 2" PVC pipe to the outside. That's very far from sufficient. If you have a furnace it's trivial to have it left in place.

thinkcontext 4y ago
I don't think you understand what a heat pump is or how they work. Its an air conditioner that can run in reverse. So in the centralized case like we are discussing, the outside part is the compressor, the inside part does a heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air handling system and then on to the duct work. Air is not moved from outside to inside via PVC or other method. Refrigerant (freon in older systems, more obscure names now) moves from outside to inside via a small copper pipe.
- hwillis 4y ago
  Air handlers are not heat pumps. An air handler can be put in place of a furnace, but it certainly does not have to. If you have a furnace, it's trivial to have it left in place.
  - thinkcontext 4y ago
    I didn't say air handlers are heat pumps, I said the product of the heat pump are passed off to the air handler. But again you seem confused about basic terminology about the subject you are talking about. > An air handler can be put in place of a furnace, but it certainly does not have to. An air handler just moves air around, it doesn't replace a furnace. Its an essential part of a central heating / cooling system regardless of whether its attached to a heat pump, gas furnace or anything else. I'm not sure why you keep doubling down on speaking authoritatively about something you don't understand. Why don't you read a basic intro and then you'll understand?
    - hwillis 4y ago
      > > Heat pumps don't go where the furnace is. > They certainly can. I am responding to what you said.

falcolas 4y ago

Heat pumps can also replace the AC heat exchanger in a home HVAC setup. It’s what we did. We’ll have gas backup for when winter sucks, but otherwise we’ll use the heat exchanger.