Looking to get some anecdotal experiences from someone living in a cold climate using a heat pump as their main source of heat.

  • spacecowboy@sh.itjust.worksOP
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    10 months ago

    I’m north of the 49th parallel so my winters get a fair bit colder than yours.

    When you did use it in the winter did it ever struggle?

    • 0110010001100010@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      When you did use it in the winter did it ever struggle?

      Yeah, when it would drop below about 25-30 degrees F it couldn’t keep up and the aux heat would kick in. Which at the time was VERY expensive dual 10,000 Watt electric coils in the ductwork.

      Mine is an older model though from 2007 I think. I know the newer ones are MUCH better and some can go sub-zero.

    • takeda@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Isn’t it really how well your home is insulated and whether the heat pump can keep up with the escaping heat?

      • echo64@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        no, heat pumps are rated for and work most efficiently at a specific temperature range. You’re pumping energy from outside in, so the outside temperature matters a lot.

        you can have all the insulation in the world and it won’t matter if the heat pump can’t transfer that energy.

    • pacology@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      For heating specifically, heat pumps do le’t really work well (just yet). I’m well south of you and it’s cheaper to use gas than a heat pump. Maybe you could pair it with a geothermal sink to increase efficiency?