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We installed a heat pump last year (2024) when we decided our condensing gas furnace wasn't going to last that much longer. Various incentives paid for about 1

We installed a heat pump last year (2024) when we decided our condensing gas furnace wasn't going to last that much longer. Various incentives paid for about 1/3rd of the cost, and we had insulation upgrades at the same time as well as replacement of an electric water heater by a heat pump water heater. Overall, we've been very pleased with the level of comfort and the economics. This is near Ithaca NY, where the coldest month (January) has an average low of 18 F.

codingdave 2y ago
I'm definitely interested in heat pumps, but we also live up north - 12F average in January. Does it hold up well during polar vortexes, when you are below 0 for a few days?
- orangepanda 2y ago
  For those 1-2 days a year when a heatpump cant keep up with the cold, its fine to have a plug-in heater.
- pfdietz 2y ago
  We haven't experienced that yet. I think the lowest temperature we experienced since it was installed was -4 F one night. We didn't notice any problems. The only issue I've seen is the large buildup of ice below the outside unit. The unit is elevated on legs for just this reason so it hasn't affected its operation. The ice is formed when the outside unit goes through its defrost cycle in cold weather; water dripping off freezes when it hits the ground.
- alistairSH 2y ago
  I’m in DC and my childhood home and both homes I’ve owned have had heatpumps. They all have back-up electric heat elements that kick on when the heat pump can’t keep up. In our mid-70s build home (mediocre insulation and windows), that happens somewhere in around 15F. Basically a few nights/month in Jan and Feb. I can see the bump in electric bill when we have an unusually cold winter. But, overall it’s not a bad system. Most of the time, it works fine. The one downside (vs radiant heat) is it can feel drafty. But that’s going to be true of any forced-air heat. Anyway, sounds like you’re right on the edge of where a heat pump might be suitable, so you’ll need to talk to a specialist (or at least somebody else who’s used one locally). They’ve come a long way in efficiency and if it’s a new home, the better insulation will help a bunch too.
alistairSH 2y ago
Heat pump water heater - is that ducting the waste heat outside somehow? I’ve thought about them but not sure I want something dumping extra heat into my basement when it’s 100* outside here in DC metro.
- pfdietz 2y ago
  No, it extracts heat from the air in the basement. It cools the surroundings (assuming one is using the hot water, not allowing all the heat there to eventually diffuse out through the insulation, but a resistive water heat faces that same issue without having caused any cooling first.)
  - alistairSH 2y ago
    Oh, lol, I had it backwards. But in winter, when I’m using more hot water, the heater is cooling a house I’m desperately trying to keep warm? Not sure that’s any better. Is the amount of cooling noticeable? We’re in a small (by US standards), mid-70s home - it’s already next to impossible to keep the basement warm enough to use in January.
vladgur 2y ago
Did you have a gas water heater and furnace? How much is your electricity per kwh?
- pfdietz 2y ago
  We had a gas furnace but an electric water heater. Last month we paid $0.196/kWh (including distribution charges, supply charges, taxes, and various minor fees.) Better than CA, worse than TX. Average power use over January was a shade over 4 kW.

codingdave 2y ago

I'm definitely interested in heat pumps, but we also live up north - 12F average in January. Does it hold up well during polar vortexes, when you are below 0 for a few days?

orangepanda 2y ago
For those 1-2 days a year when a heatpump cant keep up with the cold, its fine to have a plug-in heater.
pfdietz 2y ago
We haven't experienced that yet. I think the lowest temperature we experienced since it was installed was -4 F one night. We didn't notice any problems. The only issue I've seen is the large buildup of ice below the outside unit. The unit is elevated on legs for just this reason so it hasn't affected its operation. The ice is formed when the outside unit goes through its defrost cycle in cold weather; water dripping off freezes when it hits the ground.
alistairSH 2y ago
I’m in DC and my childhood home and both homes I’ve owned have had heatpumps. They all have back-up electric heat elements that kick on when the heat pump can’t keep up. In our mid-70s build home (mediocre insulation and windows), that happens somewhere in around 15F. Basically a few nights/month in Jan and Feb. I can see the bump in electric bill when we have an unusually cold winter. But, overall it’s not a bad system. Most of the time, it works fine. The one downside (vs radiant heat) is it can feel drafty. But that’s going to be true of any forced-air heat. Anyway, sounds like you’re right on the edge of where a heat pump might be suitable, so you’ll need to talk to a specialist (or at least somebody else who’s used one locally). They’ve come a long way in efficiency and if it’s a new home, the better insulation will help a bunch too.

alistairSH 2y ago

Heat pump water heater - is that ducting the waste heat outside somehow? I’ve thought about them but not sure I want something dumping extra heat into my basement when it’s 100* outside here in DC metro.

pfdietz 2y ago
No, it extracts heat from the air in the basement. It cools the surroundings (assuming one is using the hot water, not allowing all the heat there to eventually diffuse out through the insulation, but a resistive water heat faces that same issue without having caused any cooling first.)
- alistairSH 2y ago
  Oh, lol, I had it backwards. But in winter, when I’m using more hot water, the heater is cooling a house I’m desperately trying to keep warm? Not sure that’s any better. Is the amount of cooling noticeable? We’re in a small (by US standards), mid-70s home - it’s already next to impossible to keep the basement warm enough to use in January.

vladgur 2y ago

Did you have a gas water heater and furnace? How much is your electricity per kwh?

pfdietz 2y ago
We had a gas furnace but an electric water heater. Last month we paid $0.196/kWh (including distribution charges, supply charges, taxes, and various minor fees.) Better than CA, worse than TX. Average power use over January was a shade over 4 kW.