Winter heat management
#1
11-15-19, 07:40 AM
Winter heat management
My 1300 f² renovated house uses a heat pump for primary heat in Maine. I kept the temp abt 68° in the main part of the home during the day and 60 at night. There is a full basement which I installed insulated 2x4 walls (2" iso and s/r) for most of it. I also installed a Rinnai EX38CT gas vented heater in the basement that I ran at 55° full time last winter. I had an deficiency company add attic insulation and tighten the house up with other improvements like foaming the sills, many new windows and doors.
I'm wondering if that is the best way to manage the heat? Would you change the basement heating cycle or temp from full time and 55°?
Any other ideas for heat savngs?
I'm wondering if that is the best way to manage the heat? Would you change the basement heating cycle or temp from full time and 55°?
Any other ideas for heat savngs?
#3
11-15-19, 11:20 AM
Member
Why are you running a separate heater in the basement when it's unoccupied?
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Heatpumps with electric backup need to be run at a constant temperature. Any savings are offset by use of backup to raise the temp back up.
Only straight fossil fuel and electric furnaces should be set back.
*
Heatpumps with electric backup need to be run at a constant temperature. Any savings are offset by use of backup to raise the temp back up.
Only straight fossil fuel and electric furnaces should be set back.
#4
11-16-19, 05:40 AM
no electric backup... it's a Fujitsu Halcyon. I heat the basement because it keeps the temp at 55, so less work for the upstairs pump. Would you not bother and move the heater upstairs?
#5
11-16-19, 06:39 AM
I didn't read an emphasis on air sealing and where the house rests on the foundation (and that rim) is a notorious source of cold infiltration. You said the foamed the rim, did that foam seal the sill plate to foundation?
What are your heating bills running, both electric and propane? You will need to establish a base load for electric (off heat/cool season bills) to subtract from winter use.
Are you looking to lower costs or increase comfort? Or both?
Bud
What are your heating bills running, both electric and propane? You will need to establish a base load for electric (off heat/cool season bills) to subtract from winter use.
Are you looking to lower costs or increase comfort? Or both?
Bud
Last edited by Bud9051; 11-16-19 at 06:39 AM. Reason: change
#6
11-16-19, 10:20 AM
Member
no electric backup... it's a Fujitsu Halcyon. I heat the basement because it keeps the temp at 55, so less work for the upstairs pump. Would you not bother and move the heater upstairs?
No central heating system?
In the basement, you need to just keep pipes from freezing (most likely it doesn't drop below freezing) and stop condensation.
They need some heat, usually it's provided by the main heating system and just having ducts run through it is enough.
The mini-split may be cheaper to run than the gas heater, it depends on your utility rates. So reducing the load on it may actually raise your bills - or it could do the opposite.
#7
12-07-19, 08:18 AM
Looking to lower costs if possible but keep warm...
Last winter, I kept temp abt 68 in main house during day, 60 at night, basement at 55 up until mar-apr.
Last year, Elec (incl heat pump) costs
Nov $100.00
Dec $135.40
Jan $145.94
Feb $145.75
Mar $152.83
Apr $115.42
Gas bill:
Nov $45.53 (got the heater installed late Nov)
Dec $196.51
Jan $144.23
Feb $113.14
Mar $91.08
Apr $63.23
Last winter, I kept temp abt 68 in main house during day, 60 at night, basement at 55 up until mar-apr.
Last year, Elec (incl heat pump) costs
Nov $100.00
Dec $135.40
Jan $145.94
Feb $145.75
Mar $152.83
Apr $115.42
Gas bill:
Nov $45.53 (got the heater installed late Nov)
Dec $196.51
Jan $144.23
Feb $113.14
Mar $91.08
Apr $63.23
#8
12-07-19, 12:44 PM
Member
Heatpumps with electric backup need to be run at a constant temperature
That thing has minimal heat capacity unlike a gas furnace, when we first turned it down just 3 degrees it would run for hours in the morning trying to bring the temp up.
