My HVAC guy in Indiana was insistent that I replace my poorly sized 80,000 BTU gas furnace and 4 ton AC unit for a 4,000 SF house with geothermal. Up front cost was around $11k but he was insistent my monthly energy bill would be $100 or less, regardless of the season and condition.
Had we stayed there I would have taken him up on it. There was a big annual property tax credit from the state for having geothermal,too. -D > On Feb 12, 2021, at 1:17 PM, OK Don via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > wrote: > > Our geothermal heat pump has been doing fine so far - it's 12°F here now - > hasn't turned on the resistive strips yet. It's supposed to get to -7 > Monday so that will be a real test. The house is a "modular home", code for > a gussy'd up double wide, 1600 sq. ft., and leaky. > > On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 9:44 AM Curt Raymond via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >> Our wood stove is a Jotul 118 which is a big stove, it'll accept 24" >> wood. It's in the basement which is usually considered a negative but our >> house is small enough (just over 900sqft) that it heats the whole place >> pretty well although the bedroom stays pretty cool. I set the oil burner >> thermostat at 62 and then use wood to bring the house to 69-70 all day. Its >> back down to 62 by morning but I can have it back up to temp within 2 hours. >> This week I've been teaching, for that I sit on our enclosed porch and run >> one of those oil filled electric heater. There is hydronic out here but the >> circuit is shut off. I figure for only 5-6 hours a day it doesn't make >> sense to run the oil heat. With the door open the heat from the rest of the >> house gets in too. Usually start the electric heat 2-3 hours before class >> and shut it off 1 hour before class ends. Figure less than $1 a day... >> -Curt >> >> On Friday, February 12, 2021, 9:12:31 AM EST, Jaime Kopchinski via >> Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >> We have a Jotul wood insert which is outstanding. Its been cold, under >> freezing for a few days for the most part. I heat with my minisplits and >> the wood insert, but the large 3 zone split stopped working earlier this >> week. This meant we were running with one 12k split on one end of the >> house and the wood stove. Still managed to keep the living room in the low >> 70s. It would fall into the 60s overnight after the insert started to burn >> low. >> >> The failure of the Fujitsu was interesting... I self installed, so assumed >> no warranty. Initially the failure showed on the indoor units as no >> communication to the outdoor. The outdoor unit showed no power to the main >> board, but was supplying power to the indoor units. I found a blown fuse >> on one power supply board, soldered on. I ordered a new fuse from >> McMaster, checked the obvious places I could for a short, then soldered it >> in when it arrived. The unit powered up then, but wouldn't heat and gave a >> code for the outdoor unit fan after a while, which wasn't spinning. More >> testing showed 400V DC (!) to the fan connector and open circuit on the fan >> motor. I ordered up a new fan and installed it yesterday and all is good >> now. >> >> Cost me about $300 to fix. If I did it by the service manual, I would have >> had to replace the power supply board, the main control board, and the >> fan. Probably would have been a $2000 repair if I called someone. >> >> But its a nice reminder how powerful the Jotul insert is. Worst case, I >> can run the oil fired steam heat still, but it generally costs a fortune. >> >> On Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 6:52 PM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >>> Actually it does have an insert, with a blower etc and it will throw out >> a >>> lot of heat. I just hate messing with it. >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>>> On Feb 11, 2021, at 5:46 PM, Curt Raymond <curtlud...@yahoo.com> >> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> A fireplace is about the least efficient device imaginable, most of the >>> heat of the fire shoots up the chimney. A small insert stove would >>> dramatically increase the heat output. It'd be cleaner too since it would >>> have a door that would be closed. >>>> >>>> Wood is still a messy way to heat. I've had our wood stove lit pretty >>> much every day this year. We've gone through probably twice as much wood >> as >>> normal but its just because I've been home. At the same time we've burned >>> maybe half as much oil as normal. >>>> >>>> It gives me something to do and makes the basement a nice place to sit >>> with a wobble pop and read. >>>> >>>> -Curt >>>> >>>> On Thursday, February 11, 2021, 6:20:07 PM EST, Kaleb Striplin via >>> Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> I like heat pumps. If it comes down to it we also have a wood burning >>> fireplace. I never use it though as I hate the hassle of messing with it. >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On Feb 11, 2021, at 5:12 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes < >>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> The heat strips are fine, it’s more an issue of a heat pump not >>> producing the “hot” air people are often accustomed to with gas forced >> air. >>> They’re not terribly efficient, either, but that’s the drawback of >> having a >>> heat pump. >>>>> >>>>> I found it sort of weird with our Indiana house as it has a >>> conventional gas furnace, so the air that comes out the vents is HOT! >>> That’s after living in houses with heat pumps for years. >>>>> >>>>> -D >>>>> >>>>>> On Feb 11, 2021, at 6:07 PM, Floyd Thursby via Mercedes < >>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> You should look into some propane backup heaters or something to tie >>> into your heat pump system. A friend has a heat pump and some sort of >>> propane system in her house, she is always complaining about having to >> run >>> the propane heater but I told her it was better than the electric heat >>> strips. >>>>>> >>>>>> --FT >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 2/11/21 5:56 PM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes wrote: >>>>>>> And it’s tripped again. Basically if the aux heat runs for any >>> amount of time it trips. I will shut down the system and swap a couple of >>> breakers around and see what happens. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2021, at 4:54 PM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I guess I could go swap a couple of breakers around in there and >>> see if the problem follows the breaker. I do not have a clamp on meter. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I could also see if I can get into the air handler. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 2/11/2021 4:50 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: >>>>>>>>> I would suspect the breaker before I would suspect the heat >>> strips. Heat strips don’t short typically, they fail open. Got a clamp on >>> ammeter you can use to check the current draw when they’re on? Then you >>> would know for sure. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Might want to give the air handler a look to make sure there’s >>> nothing amiss, like something across the heat strips. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -D >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2021, at 5:47 PM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> It is in the 20's today and will be into the single digits this >>> week. One thing I have noticed for quite a while is every now and then >> the >>> breaker for the aux heat will be tripped. I usually just reset it and >> its >>> fine but the aux heat does not have to run much as it has not been that >>> cold. When we got back I had it set for 65 and the breaker was tripped >>> again. I set the temp back to 68 and checked later and the breaker was >>> tripped again. I reset it and just now checked it and temp is now up to >> 68 >>> and the breaker tripped a 3rd time. In other words, I need to get this >>> addressed. What could be the cause? Thought about swapping out the >>> breaker in case it was getting weak but what else could be the cause? Is >>> it likely something is shorting in the heat strips itself? Not sure if I >>> should investigate and resolve or just turn in a service request to the >>> home warranty company. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> --FT >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>> >>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>> >>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>> >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Jaime Kopchinski >> http://www.jaimekop.com/ >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> > > -- > OK Don > > "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to > pause and reflect." Mark Twain > > “Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Wernher > Von Braun > 2013 F150, 18 mpg > 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg > 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
