Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps • Hacker News Board

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#101

Post by demondemidi » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:17 PM UTC

TheBlight wrote: post #94

huytersd wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re somewhat rural the contractors just don’t have the experience to do it so they try to quote you out of the decision. I had to shop around until I found a contractor that had done this before and I was able to get a whole home heat pump for about the same price as a regular furnace/AC system (because of the rebates).

How well do they function? Do they provide nice consistent heat? How's the noise? Sorry to clog up HN with a random request of a product quality review but I'm in the market right now to replace my furnace as well. Thanks.

Heat pumps need to come with an electric heater because pumps stop working below 30 deg F.

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#102

Post by yellow_postit » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:17 PM UTC

moved from oil furnace to heat pump in Seattle (with electric strip backup)

Seems like a perfect fit for our weather patterns but was definitely not the most economical option as it kicked off a domino effect of upgrades I wasn't missing before.

Its no where near as "cozy" as the oil heat was, and the temperature of airing coming from the vents is significantly lower than the oil system. So the domino of upgrades is now looking at insulation, windows, etc. Which likely all needed upgrades in our old home anyway, but it's been a journey.

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#103

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:17 PM UTC

jazzyjackson wrote: post #93

readingnews wrote: post #86

I just replaced a furnace... everyone I called for a quote would not touch a heat pump with a 20foot pole, or they wanted prices that were 2X what a separate furnace and AC would cost to install. It was very strange. This is the second home where I had this experience.. basically, they really did not want to install it. I ended up going with gas as no local person would install/warranty a heat pump, or, it was priced…

wait I didn't know I could replace my AC with a heat pump, can I replace my noisy AF condenser that's always grinding and hissing or do heat pumps make the same noises

A heat pump is the same technology as what your condenser is doing, just in reverse. So you could otherwise just think of an air conditioner as one half of the heat pump in this case. So no

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#104

Post by mypalmike » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:17 PM UTC

moribvndvs wrote: post #77

jacobolus wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain why this is a big issue?

I’ve had one for three years. While I generally love it, it cools too fast, which means it sucks at removing humidity, actually increases it a little. The installer over-provisioned.

Would a central dehumidifier help solve that?

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#105

Post by jlawrence6809 » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:17 PM UTC

jazzyjackson wrote: post #93

readingnews wrote: post #86

I just replaced a furnace... everyone I called for a quote would not touch a heat pump with a 20foot pole, or they wanted prices that were 2X what a separate furnace and AC would cost to install. It was very strange. This is the second home where I had this experience.. basically, they really did not want to install it. I ended up going with gas as no local person would install/warranty a heat pump, or, it was priced…

wait I didn't know I could replace my AC with a heat pump, can I replace my noisy AF condenser that's always grinding and hissing or do heat pumps make the same noises

A heat pump is just an AC that can move heat in either direction so you should be able to.

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#106

Post by TuringNYC » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:18 PM UTC

huytersd wrote: post #90

readingnews wrote: post #86

I just replaced a furnace... everyone I called for a quote would not touch a heat pump with a 20foot pole, or they wanted prices that were 2X what a separate furnace and AC would cost to install. It was very strange. This is the second home where I had this experience.. basically, they really did not want to install it. I ended up going with gas as no local person would install/warranty a heat pump, or, it was priced…

If you’re somewhat rural the contractors just don’t have the experience to do it so they try to quote you out of the decision. I had to shop around until I found a contractor that had done this before and I was able to get a whole home heat pump for about the same price as a regular furnace/AC system (because of the rebates).

>> I had to shop around until I found a contractor that had done this before and I was able to get a whole home heat pump for about the same price as a regular furnace/AC system (because of the rebates).

Not sure the trouble is over. You are only good until you need servicing, and then you need to shop around again. Servicing is even worse, because it is an acute problem and you are under so much time pressure to solve the issue.

Sometimes even the company that sold the unit does not honor their warranty. They shut down. They re-incorporate under a new company, etc.

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#107

Post by wtallis » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:18 PM UTC

jazzyjackson wrote: post #93

readingnews wrote: post #86

I just replaced a furnace... everyone I called for a quote would not touch a heat pump with a 20foot pole, or they wanted prices that were 2X what a separate furnace and AC would cost to install. It was very strange. This is the second home where I had this experience.. basically, they really did not want to install it. I ended up going with gas as no local person would install/warranty a heat pump, or, it was priced…

wait I didn't know I could replace my AC with a heat pump, can I replace my noisy AF condenser that's always grinding and hissing or do heat pumps make the same noises

AC is just a heat pump that doesn't give you the option of running it backwards. There can be good and bad implementations of either.

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#108

Post by HumblyTossed » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:18 PM UTC

moribvndvs wrote: post #77

jacobolus wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain why this is a big issue?

I’ve had one for three years. While I generally love it, it cools too fast, which means it sucks at removing humidity, actually increases it a little. The installer over-provisioned.

Does your thermostat allow you to "over cool" in order to get the humidity down to a comfortable level?

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#109

Post by bonton89 » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:19 PM UTC

huytersd wrote: post #90

readingnews wrote: post #86

I just replaced a furnace... everyone I called for a quote would not touch a heat pump with a 20foot pole, or they wanted prices that were 2X what a separate furnace and AC would cost to install. It was very strange. This is the second home where I had this experience.. basically, they really did not want to install it. I ended up going with gas as no local person would install/warranty a heat pump, or, it was priced…

If you’re somewhat rural the contractors just don’t have the experience to do it so they try to quote you out of the decision. I had to shop around until I found a contractor that had done this before and I was able to get a whole home heat pump for about the same price as a regular furnace/AC system (because of the rebates).

A guy at work doesn't have a heatpump, just some really high efficiency oil boiler. He lives in a rural area and basically had to become an expert on maintaining and repairing it himself because no one seems to know how to service the thing.

My father had similar issues with his new boiler although in his case after constant failed repair attempts his local place finally hired some guy who knew what he was doing.

There's also rebates on heatpumps around here but local forums seem to suggest that the installers are super backed up and quote "go away" prices. You can't get the rebate unless you go with a state approved installer, so even if you can install it yourself you're out of luck. Seems like they've just raised their prices to compensate for the rebate since they already had to much work.

Re: Nine US states are teaming up to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps

#110

Post by modeless » Fri, Feb 09, 2024, 7:19 PM UTC

lolinder wrote: post #100

jazzyjackson wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wait I didn't know I could replace my AC with a heat pump, can I replace my noisy AF condenser that's always grinding and hissing or do heat pumps make the same noises

A heat pump is just an air conditioner that can be run in reverse. Replacing your air conditioner might help if it makes the noise because it's old and broken, but if you just really dislike the sound of an air conditioner it probably won't help much.

Maybe one of the new variable speed ones would help?