Saving Oil by Using a Heat Pump
We took a big step and stopped using our furnace to heat the hot water. Everyone’s heard of a heat pump, but this one isn’t heating our house, we use wood for that which is free for us. We were one of the first people in our area to install this heat pump to heat our hot water only. First we bought a 50 gallon hot water heater. Believe it or not, nowadays that’s cheaper to use now. The heat pump uses that tank as a holding vessel for the the water from the well. The thermostat in the tank is also used but the heat pump heats the water, not the heating element in the tank. The heat pump which is connected to it, is basically a reverse a/c compressor. In an air conditioner the cold air comes in and cools the room while the heat generated by the compressor goes out the window. Well this works the same way but in the opposite direction. You capture the heat to raise the temperature of the water in the tank.
An added benefit is that the basement is also dehumidified! Most people complain of damp basements, so this unit kills two birds with one stone! A heat pump also uses less electricity than a hot water heater because it is very efficient.
You can contact Peter Cann at 315-687-3812, 427-0516 cell if you are interested in purchasing one of these heat pumps.
Filed under: Misc on September 24th, 2008
Seems more and more people are installing heat pumps - they must be very efficient! It will be interesting to hear what the savings actually are per month
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Do you have to have a qualified electrician or plumber install these?
these are such a great idea, and becoming more and more popular, i would have one if we were in our own property, but i dont think my landlord here would like it too much
You don’t have to have a qualified plumber or electrician if you know anything about either. We had the guy who sold us the pump install it as part of the deal. He was learning as he went along. Plumbing with PEX is easier than working with copper. Cheaper too. You need a crimping tool. Electrical work is complicated and dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
I have been hearing very good things about heat pumps. I think I may have to look into them more, as a design student everyone around me is pushing tank less heaters.
I saw this sorta thing on another blog and I must say that its a good idea. I wouldn’t mind setting up something like this in my place, once I have a house that is.
I am starting to hear more and more about heat pumps, but I do wonder if they are approved for use in a modular home?
Floridian homes have used heat pumps for years. It’s economical, but then again, we don’t have to heat our homes for many weeks out of the year also so there is another savings.
Heat pump is one of the greatest inventions ever! I had one in my previous home and with it practically unlimited amounts of hot water for next to nothing - and always a cool room.
I think installing the heat pumps in garages in Florida would be really smart - to cool down the garage and heat the water at the same time.
Nice post, quick question are you using wordpress for your blog? I like the look and feel of your site.
The dehumidifying properties of the Heat pump used for heating water in really interesting, along with the cost savings it seems like a very nice alternative.