8,000 bucks later

[Kindsvater Flat]

its finally warm in the house. Gotta love central air & heat.
The big question is how much cheaper will it be compared to the 8 220v room heaters that are in the walls? Summer time runs around 500 a month and the winter around 400. Spring is the best when we don't use anything and it runs around 130 a month.

[DryHeatOnly]

its finally warm in the house. Gotta love central air & heat.
The big question is how much cheaper will it be compared to the 8 220v room heaters that are in the walls? Summer time runs around 500 a month and the winter around 400. Spring is the best when we don't use anything and it runs around 130 a month.
It depends, how well insulated are you?

[Propchecker]

Now you just have to pull out and patch/paint all those wall heater holes :rolleyes:

[Kindsvater Flat]

insulation is good. It has only cycled once in the last 1 1/2 hrs. Ya I'm really looking forward to all the patch work in the walls and the 3 wall a/c units.

[Boatcop]

I expanded my house from around 1050 sf to 1750 sf. Upgraded the (20+ year old) 3 ton A/C w/ strip heat to a 4 ton heat pump last March.
I'm on the average plan at the Power Company, paying the ame amount every month, averaged from the previous 12 months. My prior average payment was $230 per month figured from Dec '02 - Dec '03. It just went down to $136, from the average Dec '03 - Dec '04.
Larger house, bigger cooling/heating unit = lower electric bills????????
The unit has already paid for itself in savings, or at leat will have in the next 6 months with the new average payment. I got the Heat Pump as a scratch & dent from a member of the boards here. Killer deal. :p
Point to make is that if you have an efficient central unit, you can't go wrong, cost wise, over space heaters or older A/C units.

[Kindsvater Flat]

Well the kids are bitching that its to hot. Wife loves it. I have the thermostat programmed and locked. :D My house is 2330 sqft and its a 5ton unit. The heat side of it is propane.

[Dr. Eagle]

its finally warm in the house. Gotta love central air & heat.
The big question is how much cheaper will it be compared to the 8 220v room heaters that are in the walls? Summer time runs around 500 a month and the winter around 400. Spring is the best when we don't use anything and it runs around 130 a month.
Weren't you working on this HVAC project last year? :confused:

[Kindsvater Flat]

It started mid summer

[Dr. Eagle]

Were you maybe planning it in early 04... this is ringing a bell with the ol doc...

[Kindsvater Flat]

I planned it, started it, wife spent the money on something else:D

[Dr. Eagle]

I planned it, started it, wife spent the money on something else:D
I hate it when that happens!
Hope the HVAC saves you some $$$
Did you look into any additional insulation?

[Kindsvater Flat]

They are doing the insulation tomorrow. They are going to blow a bunch in.
So far it still hasn't cycled and its 74 inside. set to cycle at 70.

[Dr. Eagle]

They are doing the insulation tomorrow. They are going to blow a bunch in.
So far it still hasn't cycled and its 74 inside. set to cycle at 70.
Swweeeeeeeeeeet

[dirty old man]

I've always been told that strip heat and heat pumps are the worst kind of heating known to man, especially in cold climates

[Kindsvater Flat]

This is propane heat. Doesn't take long to warm up the house thats for sure.

[Boatcop]

I've always been told that strip heat and heat pumps are the worst kind of heating known to man, especially in cold climates
Strip heat is probably the most inefficient heating system know to man. But the plain heat pump is pretty efficient by itself.
Natural gas or propane may be slightly cheaper, but for the mild desert winters, not really worth the extra cost and hassle of putting in a gas furnace, running gas lines, etc. (All electric home)
The biggest electric draw here is A/C in the summer. The heater side of the pump rarely kicks on, except on the coldest mornings. This house really retains the days heat enough to carry it through the night, with the heater only kicking on first thing in the morning when we get up (programmable T-Stat) for showers.