Posted on 11/07/2010 4:26:48 PM PST by plinyelder
This was a tough one to figure out what category this should go in!
Well .. Anyway .. I need some advice from an expert on electrical use.
Been out of work for over two years now and I am 'squeezing' every dime to survive!
Here is my question: I live in a two story, vinyl sided home.
I have an electric fireplace downstairs (12.5 amps +120 volts= 1500 watts) and the same upstairs.
I also have .. what I think is a 2.5 ton 'Heat Pump'.
I have No Clue, (being from Florida) What or how a heat pump works so .. Would it be 'cheaper' to run the two fireplaces to heat the home, (heat pump off) or should I just use the heat pump?
The fireplace upstairs is in the master bedroom and Really does the job but the one downstairs, really only warms two of the four rooms on the lower level.
I think that electric runs between 11 and 13 cents per Kilowatt hour.
Oh yea .. Both fireplaces can be set to turn off and on as needed (thermostat?) but the one on the lower floor has to run on high .. all the time to do the job.
Thanks Everyone
I’d love a $1,000 heat pump, thats a darn good price.
Maybe that’s a little low, but you get the drift. Payback on our system was about four years.
Compared to a traditional nat gas system, our geothermal is 300 percent efficient. If you plan to build new, it will pay you back big time.
Ensure your curtains are thick enough to do the job. On sunny days, open the curtains on the south eastern side to take advantage of solar heat.
Do you have drafts around your entry doors? "Go Medieval," and hang a blanket or tapestry over the portal to block drafts.
Also, apply weather stripping to your doors and windows.
Had we not taken the House, I'd suggest heating rocks over a dung fire and bringing them into your home in iron buckets. Depending on whether the GOP knows how to behave with a modicum of power, we may still need to.
Ding, Ding, Ding .. Ding.
We have a WINNER! LOL
The most effective way to heat your home efficiently is the cheapest - seal those darn drafts!
Foam seals that tape onto your door jams to stop air leaks. Rope caulk on your windows, followed by shrinkable clear plastic to cover them. Self-closing dryer vent that opens when in use, and closes when idle (any hardware store has these, they look like a miniature chimney stack.) Hot water heater blanket. Make sure you have plenty of insulation in your attic. On those cold nights roll up a blanket and place it over the bottom of your doors.
There’s a lot of things you can do to cut energy usage that cost little to nothing to do.
I like the fact that the door does not have a window; I assume you have a “peek-hole.” If not, you need to install one.
I'm concerned about the security of the ground floor windows. You may mitigate risk by installing decorative bronze bars with sharpened grape leaves. If a potential intruder attempts to enter they may be later identified by dna gleaned from their blood.
You should remove trees within twenty feet of the house. This is not only a security issue; the root systems can play havoc with your plumbing, especially if you have a septic tank.
You also need a moat. No reason except having a moat is pretty darn cool.
My talents run more towards security than HVAC...
I don’t think I can build one here in Florida. The water table is about 2 feet down but thats not too cold. The aquifer certain has a lot of cold water, 72 degrees but I’m pretty sure the state frowns on a bunch of people drilling into it.
Well, the best way to know for sure is to run a test.
You should have a electric meter on your house.
Start with a quick one day test on each system to test yourself.
1) Ready your electric meter at the start of the day.
For that day, only run your heat pump.
2) At the start of the next day, read your meter.
Calculate how much electricity you used.
For the second day, run only the electric heaters.
3) At the end of the second day, read your meter.
Calculate again how much electricity you used.
Once you have your methodology down good. Run longer tests with different protocols.
Perhaps you want to run the heat pump for the downstairs and the fireplace for the upstairs.
If you monitor your electricity on a daily basis, you can adjust your habits to get the sized bill you desire.
LOL .. I could tell!
Yep, have a peep hole. ;)
The neighborhood .. is the best for security.
The windows, actually the house is protected by ADT.
The trees, according to the tree folks are all non-intrusive maples and the plumbing is all under the house 'except' the water main which runs under the drive .. away from any trees.
(No septic, only sewer)
You should still consider the moat simply, for aestetic value...
LOL But .. Where to put the 'Drawbridge'?
Sigh... Near the portcullis, just before the "murder-hole!"
Jeez!
I pray that you will soon get a job. Take anything you can get for now and it will lead you to something else. God bless and prosper you.
That is a beautiful view. Wisconsin is a pretty state. The house is lovely too, but I couldn’t live in it as I’m claustrophobic and need windows and lots of escape hatches.
Thank You WVNan
WVNan
Forgot to say that I am in Chesterfield, Virginia.
Okay. All of VA is gorgeous. I loved living there. The only part that is too urban for me is the area around D.C. We lived in Lynchburg 6 years, and in Richmond 3 yrs. I really loved Lynchburg. Great town.
I see where Chesterfield County is accepting applications for an Assistant County Administrator. Don’t know what your area of expertise is, but you have nothing to lose by applying. An assistant to anything is a learning situation.
Also .. too many liberals and Muslims for me!
(can I say that .. "liberals"? LOL)
For what it’s worth, I had two heat pumps installed when I built my house about twenty years ago. The local utility company was pushing them with rebates. Since then I have been told by at least two HVAC repair men that they actually cost more to run than a modern HVAC system. I am currently running them without the heat pump component and do appear to be saving money.
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