Home Page link

Heat Pump and Radiators?

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Heat Pump and Radiators? Freud 05-08-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by Freud on May 8, 2007, 12:57 pm
Hi:
We have a 1930s Cape Cod in MD. It has a natural gas boiler for
radiators, and a heat pump/central AC system. The two systems are
controlled by two separate thermostats. My question is, can I get a
single thermostat which will allow me to control the two systems so I
can be as energy-efficient as possible? Around here it gets cold enough
so that the heat pump will doubtless fall back to its aux heat, which is
quite inefficient. What I'd like is to use the heat pump when it's not
too cold out, then switch over to the radiators as the aux heat. Can I
maybe wire the heat pump thermostat so that it kicks on the gas rather
than the resistance heat? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Freud

Posted by Pat on May 8, 2007, 1:20 pm
> Hi:
> We have a 1930s Cape Cod in MD. It has a natural gas boiler for
> radiators, and a heat pump/central AC system. The two systems are
> controlled by two separate thermostats. My question is, can I get a
> single thermostat which will allow me to control the two systems so I
> can be as energy-efficient as possible? Around here it gets cold enough
> so that the heat pump will doubtless fall back to its aux heat, which is
> quite inefficient. What I'd like is to use the heat pump when it's not
> too cold out, then switch over to the radiators as the aux heat. Can I
> maybe wire the heat pump thermostat so that it kicks on the gas rather
> than the resistance heat? Any ideas would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Freud

Wouldn't it be simpler to just have a qualified serviceman disconnect
the heat pump's electric heat. Then just set your heat pump to
whatever temp you like and your furnace to 3 or 4 degrees cooler so it
will kick on when the heat pump can't handle it.

As for your question. Could you wire the heat pump's control to turn
on the furnace instead of the electric heat? No. Could a qualified
electrician do it? Yes. Would he? Probably not. Would it be
legal? Maybe.

The problem is that would probably need a control box with a relay to
interconnect the systems. That's a bit unusual and you would need to
talk the electrician into doing something like that because it's a bit
strange. Disconnecting the electric heat, OTOH, is just a few wire
nuts or screws.


Posted by Freud on May 8, 2007, 4:04 pm
groups@artisticphotography.us says...
SNIP
>
> Wouldn't it be simpler to just have a qualified serviceman disconnect
> the heat pump's electric heat. Then just set your heat pump to
> whatever temp you like and your furnace to 3 or 4 degrees cooler so it
> will kick on when the heat pump can't handle it.

That may be the best way, thanks.

> As for your question. Could you wire the heat pump's control to turn
> on the furnace instead of the electric heat? No. Could a qualified
> electrician do it? Yes. Would he? Probably not. Would it be
> legal? Maybe.
>
> The problem is that would probably need a control box with a relay to
> interconnect the systems. That's a bit unusual and you would need to
> talk the electrician into doing something like that because it's a bit
> strange. Disconnecting the electric heat, OTOH, is just a few wire
> nuts or screws.
>
I hadn't thought about isolating the systems - I'm not really familiar
with this stuff (obviously), but it seems like there must be a way to
make the best use of what we have.
Thanks,
Freud

Posted by Chris Lewis on May 8, 2007, 4:21 pm

> I hadn't thought about isolating the systems - I'm not really familiar
> with this stuff (obviously), but it seems like there must be a way to
> make the best use of what we have.

When you install a heat pump in tandem with another system
(eg: forced air gas etc), the system is usually set up to use
the other system as backup. You wouldn't have electric
heating strips at all.

But that doesn't seem as convenient with a hydronic system
coupled with a heat pump/AC :-(

I'd have a chat with an expert at a good HVAC company and see
what your options are. There's bound to be something.

Disconnecting the heater strip is easy. Whether it's advisable
(is it part of defrost cycle?) is a different question.
--
Chris Lewis,

Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Posted by Freud on May 8, 2007, 4:38 pm
clewis@nortelnetworks.com says...
>
> > I hadn't thought about isolating the systems - I'm not really familiar
> > with this stuff (obviously), but it seems like there must be a way to
> > make the best use of what we have.
>
> When you install a heat pump in tandem with another system
> (eg: forced air gas etc), the system is usually set up to use
> the other system as backup. You wouldn't have electric
> heating strips at all.
>
> But that doesn't seem as convenient with a hydronic system
> coupled with a heat pump/AC :-(
>
> I'd have a chat with an expert at a good HVAC company and see
> what your options are. There's bound to be something.
>
> Disconnecting the heater strip is easy. Whether it's advisable
> (is it part of defrost cycle?) is a different question.
>
The defrost cycle is yet another new thing to me - I'll get to grips
with all this yet! I really appreciate all the info.
Thanks,
Freud

Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Replacing Radiators with Baseboard Heat April 11, 2007, 4:50 pm
Hot water cylinder 'robbing' radiators of heat? January 9, 2006, 8:51 am
Buddy tells me if I have elec heat and a heat pump, I can get a deal with PSE&G... September 24, 2005, 8:42 pm
Heat Pump vs. 2-Stage Heat Pump December 25, 2005, 10:43 am
HVAC - Oil or electric backup for new heat pump? Or oil heat only? August 17, 2005, 8:16 pm
I want to switch from propane heat to a heat pump, any concerns? August 31, 2008, 1:32 pm
Heat pump heat exchanger outside doesn't start sometimes.... November 26, 2005, 12:12 am
Heat pump heat strip retrofit December 19, 2007, 11:49 pm
Heat Pump Not Reaching Heat Setting January 16, 2008, 8:40 pm
Heat Pump vs aux propane heat February 14, 2006, 10:41 am

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap