advice needed on heating options

17 years ago

Our house has two systems, both are oil furnace + AC. One of the oil furnaces just died, with a cracked heat exchanger, the AC is quite old also. The house has 4000 sf, one newer (2002) system deals with ~3000 sf living space, and the other (dead one) deals with ~1000 sf (three bedrooms, a 500 sf one first floor, two 250 sf ones on second floor). The second floor bedrooms has been very cold (10 degree less) due to much less air flow and possibly much more heat loss. Right now we are using only the first floor bedroom, with space heater. In the summer, we seldom use AC, because the house is in a very shaded area (10 days usage total). We try to keep the humidity below 60%.

Based on my reading here, heat pump would normally be a good heating option. (we are in north DE, electricity rate is ~13cent, no gas, oil is $2.3/g now, was $4/g in the summer which is scary). However, our cooling load and AC usage is abnormal. Does it make sense to use heat pump? I would guess a 1.5 ton system would be over-sized for our cooling need (the current one is a two ton). Our major need is cheap heating. We also want to resolve the upstairs/downstairs difference.

All the possible solutions I have come up with:

1. just change oil furnace, AC need to be changed soon.

2. just use space heaters in the rooms we use (may not be enough on very cold days, and need to do something when selling the house)

3. use ductless mini heat pump system.

4. change the oil furnace with a air handler with electric strip, leave room for heat pump.

5. do 4 and change AC to new heat pump.

6. keep the oil furnace but add electric strip (Electro-MateÂ®).

7. install propane tank, use gas furnace.

8. do 7 and install heat pump.

Could you please comment on these options, or provide other possible solutions? Our major goal is low cost, a balance of both operating and start-up.

Thanks a lot!

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Comments (5)

hvacservicetech_07
17 years ago
Is burning wood an option for you? If so,in my area (southern Illinois) outdoor wood stoves are very popular.They cost very little to operate and you can also heat you're domestic water as well.

If tempatures in your area are below 30 degrees for most of the winter,a heatpump will be almost useless for you.
dan_martyn
17 years ago
learnin,

If you have Excel, the link below is a Calculator which will help you determine the best fuel option. Also check your utility companys for rebate programs which may pay partial cost of equipment installation. Get several bids, ask for references, licensing and insurance information.

www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/heatcalc.xls

Keep Warm,

Dan Martyn
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learnin
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks a lot for all the advice. After some deliberation, I feel a 3 ton two-stage heat pump would best suit our need. The cooling would be using only two ton, which would be more than enough. With variable speed blower, humidity removal should be OK, I hope. For heating, the 3 ton capacity probably gives a balancing temperature around 17 F (23 F is the average low in January). This again should be enough for our heating need. Any comments?

Thanks!
joeplumb
17 years ago
Your newer system is probably oversized so if you could somehow connect the ductwork of the old system to the new and change to single zone, balancing the old system to the new, you could at least give modest heating to the old areas.
Pretty cheap solution and a low cost try.
But you have to do a load calculation to make sure that the new unit can handle the additional load.
learnin
Original Author
17 years ago
I didn't quite get that. What's the drawback for over-sizing on heating? I'm doing intentional over-sizing here to accommodate our major need, which is cheap heating (the same reason as people using Acadia heat pumps). From what I understand, oversized cooing may cause some problem with humidity removal being not enough (for which I am addressing with a two-stage system). Never heard anything about heating though. Could somebody enlighten me, please?