I was kidding, I understand the concept.
Everyone I know in Central NH who got swindled into shutting off their oil heat has been freezing their asses off for weeks - hence the remark about the wood. Wood heat from a cast iron stove is still the best, I think.
If you are heating with a heat pump, what happens when the power goes off?
“...what happens when the power goes off?”
For us, the Automatic Transfer Switch starts the natural-gas fired 26 kW Briggs and Stratton emergency generator. The lights go out for a few seconds while the switch transfers to the generator.
As long as we don’t lose BOTH NG and electricity simultaneously, we are good. But if the greeniacs get us to that point where both are unreliable, then it’s time for a 500 gallon propane tank.
I installed the system about 16 months ago and, though we’ve had some fierce windstorms and snowfalls, the power has stayed on! Wouldn’t you know it?!
—”everyone I know in Central NH who got swindled into shutting off their oil heat has been freezing their asses off for weeks “
We had MINUS THIRTEEN FAHRENHEIT for a few days over Christmas and ours worked just fine????
If the house is poorly insulated /not sealed well, a heat pump or high-efficiency furnace will not work unless oversized.
To achieve maximum efficiency they put out a minimum of heat. An old furnace could pump out 140F, my heat pump seldom exceeds 100F.
Our standby generator (propane) kicks in.
Same thing that happens when you are cooling with a heat pump, and the power goes off. Except you can't make it better by building a fire.
“what happens when the power goes off?”
Fire up your very large Diesel GenSet with the radiator located in your mud-room?