Heat Pump/Cold Weather

Discussion in 'Discussion Group' started by robbie, Jan 17, 2009.

  1. robbie

    robbie Well-Known Member

    Gosh, Did you all stay warm last nite. We thankfully did, but a little chilly in the house. Our heat pump went into emergency heat all nite and I had it set on 75 degrees but it couldn't keep up with the frigid temps. By the time I woke up this morning the thermostat read 68 degrees. If we ever have in the future frigid temps like this I will need a different form of heating to help the heat pump along. Otherwise the heat pump works great. Did anyone else have this problem the last 2 nites with their heat pump not keeping up cause it was sooooo cold outside?
     
  2. kdc1970

    kdc1970 Guest

    Turning it up to a higher temp won't make it work any better...........it's doing just what it's designed to do. Just like in the summer, when it's 100 outside, it's hard to get your house to 65 inside. I don't know all the technicalities, but I can PM you the name of my boss who would be happy to answer any questions on how all that works. :)

    We ran a kerosene heater yesterday for the first time in years, I just didn't want the pumps to run non-stop, not because it will "hurt" them, I don't want that electric bill next month! Mine are older 10 seer units, not the worlds most efficient. I'm going to replace them with 14 or 15 seer hopefully next year.
     
  3. bandmom

    bandmom Well-Known Member

    :iagree: thats why I love my gas logs and electric blankets! :lol: We use them all the time, helps keep the electric bills down too! :hurray:
     
  4. robbie

    robbie Well-Known Member

    OK, then it sounds as if my heat pump is normal. It is only 2 years old. And I have had it on 75/76 degrees most of the winter, so when it suddenly couldn't keep up in the frigid weather I thought it was bad, I am going to dread the electric bill next month. Yikes:(
     
  5. Kelyel

    Kelyel Well-Known Member

    75!!!
    You must love getting that power bill!!!

    Ours is on 65 max, but we wear clothes in the house, use electric blankets and wear slippers & socks.

    Hello=> New Flash: - It's winter. Wrap up!
     
  6. claytonian

    claytonian Well-Known Member

    75 degrees - I'd freak if I got one of your electric bills. Our heat is set at 69 and sometimes I feel that it could go done another notch. If our heat was at 75, I think I'd have to have a window open because it would be too warm
     
  7. robbie

    robbie Well-Known Member

    My electric bill was only 200. last month and that was high because we had the Christmas lights running alot. Normally my electic bill is around 100.-150. a month all year. That is not bad for a 2100sq house with 4 adults and 2 refridgerators and a spare freezer. Oh and to mention the washer and dryer are always running and the TV's always on.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2009
  8. Wayne Stollings

    Wayne Stollings Well-Known Member

    The emergency heat will kick on in two instances. One is when the temperature drops below the point at which there is not enough heat in the outside air to warm as efficiently as the resistance strip heaters. The other is if the temeperature drops below a certain number of degress from the set point. Yours would have kicked on under both conditions most likely. The resistence heating should have kept up with the temperature set point in normal conditions, but it may just be the strip heating elements were a tad undersized since this kind of weather is not normal for us.
     
  9. Steeler_Fan

    Steeler_Fan Well-Known Member

    We keep both of our units on 62, they are combo unit, use electric and gas, if it a certain temp I think is uses gas, I don't really know for sure. Just got our gas bill today and it was 52. Our electric bill was 89. Not to bad. House is 2 stories about 2900 sq feet. I don't know if it matters both units were new in the spring. I think 62 is to warm sometimes. 75 wow. 8)
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2009
  10. ncmom

    ncmom Well-Known Member

    Same here! We LOVE our electric balnkets :hurray:

    We keep the house about 68-69 24/7. When we need a burst of warmth during the day turn on the gas logs. Gas heat is so much warmer than the heat pump!
     
  11. robbie

    robbie Well-Known Member

    I guess that is why they don't use heat pumps in the north! Can't keep up. Sure I would love a smaller electric bill, but I want to live comfortable also. I just love the hot weather as you can tell.:)
     
  12. GoWulfpack

    GoWulfpack Guest

    Put it on 67 and leave it.
     
  13. robbie

    robbie Well-Known Member

    The emergency heat went off as the outside temp went up. I have the house on 71 and I just bumped it up to 73. My hands are frozen and I am bundled up. I hate being cold! Will have it back on 75 for sure.:)
     
  14. carolinasun

    carolinasun Well-Known Member

    I keep the thermostat at 70 degrees. This weather is very uncommon for this area, don't be concerned about your system just adjust your way of living to accomidate it. Put on extra clothes and extra blankets or a electric blanket on the bed. In a couple of days everything will be normal. You might have your blood checked when you see the DR you might be a little anemic, that will make you feel cold. Better days are coming, ANNE:grouphug:
     
  15. robbie

    robbie Well-Known Member

    I know my thyroid is at the extreme lowest end of normal so that is one reason I am cold but I will ask to check to see if I am anemic also. Thank You for bringing up that point CarolinaSun. You all stay warm tonite. Can't wait for a heat wave.:)
     
  16. monaco177

    monaco177 Guest

    I have electric heat also and I just got (and paid) electric bill for $200. I know that is a high bill and I have the added problem of me liking it cool 62-64 degrees and my wife always cranking the heat up to 72-75 degrees. Too damn hot @ anything over 68. but this is the battle of married life. :banghead::banghead:
     
  17. seabee

    seabee Guest


    LOL that is funny....
     
  18. momof3grls

    momof3grls Well-Known Member

    *
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2009
  19. bout2bmarried

    bout2bmarried Active Member

    go back north
     
  20. mnredsky

    mnredsky Well-Known Member

    ok, after reading all this I need to get some things checked out :?. I keep mine at 68-69 and my bill is usually over 240 in the January/February time frame.... WTH??

    Any suggestions on what I should check???
     

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