Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How a heat pump works

hvac-learning.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 332 posts

Re: How a heat pump works

#161

Post by bluGill »

bmicraft wrote: post #98
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heat pump technology has also improved significantly. You can now buy heat pumps that remain efficient down to very low temperatures, which makes them appropriate for a larger range of climates now. Many models are in very high demand. Some of the units I looked at recently were back ordered so far that I was told to pick something else if I expected to have it within the year. The demand is very high because the tec…

Yeah it almost makes the opposite of sense. If manufacturers are already backordered a year in advance why would they still throw money at marketing

The war in Ukraine has resulted in a real push to get off of oil/gas based heating, on top of global warming concerns that have already been doing that.

There are lots of different groups looking to push heat pumps for the above reasons. Governments are concerned about both war and global warming. Ukraine supporters are concerned about Russia getting more money (to wage more war). Green activists are concerned about global warming. All have their own reasons to push heat pumps on everyone.

Re: How a heat pump works

#162

Post by mikeyouse »

masklinn wrote: post #89
jcstauffer wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to get a heat pump to replace my existing baseboard hot-water system (currently powered by an oil furnace) without converting to a heated air system. From what I've read, that's not quite feasible yet, since current systems can't produce a high enough temperature. What are the prospects of that technology becoming viable in the next few years?

> From what I've read, that's not quite feasible yet, since current systems can't produce a high enough temperature. Is it because baseboard hot-water systems have limited exchange surface surface and thus need very high temperatures to do anything?

Yep - exactly the issue. They've started shipping much more efficient baseboard systems which run at lower temps by adding more fins, adding CPU fans to increase heat transfer across the plates, etc. but the correct answer is to usually invest in air sealing/insulating the house which will require fewer BTUs in the first place.

Re: How a heat pump works

#163

Post by heisenbit »

boringg wrote: post #7

What is going on? Is there a global push to get everyone to switch to heat pumps. It seems that there is heat pump content everywhere. Clearly there is a push. I understand that its for climate benefits but it feels very coordinated. edit: didn't realize the attention I would get. Let me add someone answered my question -- a good product market fit and people talking is probably where the push came from. That said HV…

Continuous improvements in technology, growth spurt in electric motors, demand gap for automobile motor part suppliers having to seek out related industries, cheap summer electricity via solar panel meet kick in the behind by fossil fuel energy prices.

Re: How a heat pump works

#164

Post by fullstop »

notyourwork wrote: post #155
fullstop wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your high end apartment must have had a low end heat pump installed. In the midwest a geothermal heat pump would work wonderfully. Also, they are designed to run constantly in order to maintain the set temperature -- it's not like a natural gas fired furnace where it quickly reaches the set point.

The constant running also affords a more consistent temperature because air is continually moving. Decreases the temperature variance throughout the zone. I have a 3 zone heat pump, 2 single room zones upstairs and a main floor with a air handler. We LOVE the setup so far.

Yes, I've been happy with ours and it was a great improvement over the last heat pump that we had.

Habits are hard to break, though, and there's not much value (if any) of lowering the set-point at night during the winter months. People still do it, though, and then the unit is working overtime in the morning to reach the desired set point.

I'm glad that you're happy with your setup!

Re: How a heat pump works

#165

Post by sophacles »

tekla wrote: post #158
sophacles wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is IRA in this context? I don't think heat pumps have anything to do with retirement nor the political status of Norther Ireland.

Its a fairly easy to parse typo of IRS.

Oh that makes some sense, I guess I wasn't thinking about them since they aren't the ones who change tax law.

Re: How a heat pump works

#167

Post by mikeyouse »

LazyMans wrote: post #54
jcstauffer wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to get a heat pump to replace my existing baseboard hot-water system (currently powered by an oil furnace) without converting to a heated air system. From what I've read, that's not quite feasible yet, since current systems can't produce a high enough temperature. What are the prospects of that technology becoming viable in the next few years?

This guy is a great resource if you want to understand what goes into a proper A2W system install. In Europe, it seems by law they are required to do heat loss calculations to size an install. In the US, it seems to be a little more loose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IvGe4JZLSU

I saw a video recently from a ... less sophisticated place in the US... where the HVAC installer literally held up a piece of paper from the street with different sized houses on it, and sized the HVAC based on which of the houses best "covered up" the actual house when looking through the semi-transparent paper. Just astonishing. No consideration at all for the build quality/insulation details, no adjusting for the distance from the road, just a "welp, this looks like a 3-ton job".

Re: How a heat pump works

#168

Post by fullstop »

helen___keller wrote: post #94
fullstop wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you live geographically? I'm in eastern Pennsylvania and have lived with a heat pump for 20+ years.

Massachusetts

A bit colder, on average, than where I live. You might want to look at ground-loop HPs or ccASHPs.

Re: How a heat pump works

#169

Post by aaronbrethorst »

sophacles wrote: post #153
billjings wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's a couple of reasons: 1. The American market has a lot of incorrect perceptions of heat pumps. Debunking these makes for great viral content! 2. The IRA introduced big incentives for various electrification expenses. The incentives are the big thing, but the public interest/controversy part is why some enhancements like heat pumps and kitchen electrification ("don't take away my gas stove!") are going more vira…

What is IRA in this context? I don't think heat pumps have anything to do with retirement nor the political status of Norther Ireland.

The inflation reduction act of 2022. https://www.hvac.com/resources/inflation-reduction-act-heat-...

Re: How a heat pump works

#170

Post by bruckie »

oh_sigh wrote: post #121
oceanplexian wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An overlooked benefit is that they actually improve comfort over a boiler in a dry climate, so if you live somewhere with low humidity they help keep the air less dry. They also give you heating and cooling.. for places that don’t have Air Conditioning it’s a worthwhile upgrade.

Sure, but you can get a whole home.humidifier for like $300 to mitigate that issue.

My parents installed a whole home humidifier a couple of years ago. It cost way more than $300 (closer to $2k installed—maybe they just got the wrong one?), and it also costs a lot to operate each month in additional electricity usage. Having a system that doesn't require one sounds much nicer.
Post reply on HN