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How are people with heat pumps faring? (self.alberta)

submitted 1 year ago by NotAnArdvark to c/alberta

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With the cold weather I was hoping to hear of some experiences people have had with their heat pumps.

What kind of backup heat do you have? Are you using it? Is there some temperature where you just stop using the heat pump, or are you even consciously thinking about it?

Thanks!

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[–] AnotherDirtyAnglo 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

My total bill dropped, because the number of kWh dropped, and most of the distribution fees are linked to consumption.

For me, I was replacing my furnace anyway (builder grade crap) and I wanted the most efficient unit I could get -- because summers are only getting hotter. I managed to upgrade from 2-ton AC to 2.5-ton heatpump, but the total cost (tax included) was approaching $12k). I may not get back every penny I spent in electricity savings, but the house is more comfortable, and it's nice to know I have extra heating/cooling capacity as the weather gets more extreme.

[–] GrindingGears 2 points 1 year ago

There's definitely a pretty good argument to be made there too, I won't deny that. You are right, the summers are getting longer drier and gnarlier, and the freezes are getting worse too. We often have to deal with a lot of smoke later in the summer too. I for sure took a real close look at it a couple years ago, just as those grants and stuff came online, as we were doing our AC at the time.

The reality for my household, is that in current state and location we just don't use enough hydro to justify the cost versus the benefits. Now does that change in the future, as my kids get older and the climate continues to change? Hey, maybe, never say never. Also I think if you are a household in SW Ontario, or anywhere near the lakes, absolutely I'd be taking a very very close and serious look at one. I just couldn't get the math to math at the moment, in my location.