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| Thread ID: 109075 | 2010-04-23 06:32:00 | How much really cheaper is a heat pump? | Nomad (952) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 879405 | 2010-04-23 06:32:00 | How much cheaper is a heat pump? If you have a 6.10kW heat pump, the rated power input required may be between 0.90 - 7.60kW (ref: Panasonic brochure). If you arrive home and it is cold, it may work harder at a higher kW to get the room to your desired temperature and then it may go into economy mode and might even shut off once it's reached your desired temperature and trickle heat as required to maintain that. If one compares to a standard electric heater. Due to only 1:1 efficiency, a 6kW heater would be consuming 6kW of electricity, but once you reached your temperature (with its thermostat) the power cuts off and comes back on when it is required. My understanding is that a heat pump despite the coefficient of performance might be over 5 for some models, with most at 3 or 4. It's not always that you get multiple bang for your buck. If you are turning it on 6pm - 10pm each night the savings may be limited. If you were to leave it on for most of the day you may save more compared to a electric heater but that would push up your power bills. I personally rather walk around in socks and sweaters than pay a large bill each month even if I had a heat pump instead of leaving it on longer periods. Your advice appreciated and if I am incorrect, please educate me. Cheers :) |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 879406 | 2010-04-23 06:41:00 | We only use ours if it is cold....power bill seldom exceeds $100. | KarameaDave (15222) | ||
| 879407 | 2010-04-23 06:43:00 | Why? Are you considering getting a heat pump for your home? For many years we have used firewood but the costs have increased so much that for the cold months we were burning over $600 of wood, maybe $700 (cannot recall exactly). This is the price in Masterton; in Wellington or other big cities the price of firewood is much more. Yes, if you leave a heat pump on all day it is going to cost a lot. But I would never go back to firewood! We probably pay a bit more, perhaps 10 or 20% more, but the convenience is worth it. No more do we have to wait 30 - 60 minutes for the fire to heat our living area. The heat pump takes only 3 - 5 minutes. No more feeling COLD, especially when we pop home for a short time when it would not make sense to start the fire. As far as I am concerned, the fireplace resides in the same place as the VCR and floppy disks. |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 879408 | 2010-04-23 07:01:00 | We don't have a fireplace. We have a high ceiling so we need a 6kW heat pump, there is also no insulation b/c due to the high ceiling there is no roof space above the lounge, only at the back of the house and underneath is the garage. No basement access. We required 2x 2.4kW oil column heaters just to heat the room up. We've seen $400 (a month) power bills last year over winter. We are certainly getting one for the main room. But I've started questioning the figures if the heat pump was in a bedroom. Maybe a 2.4kW HP vs a 2.4kW oil column heater with a thermostat. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 879409 | 2010-04-23 07:37:00 | My understanding is that a heat pump despite the coefficient of performance might be over 5 for some models, with most at 3 or 4. It's not always that you get multiple bang for your buck. If you are turning it on 6pm - 10pm each night the savings may be limited. If you were to leave it on for most of the day you may save more compared to a electric heater but that would push up your power bills. I personally rather walk around in socks and sweaters than pay a large bill each month even if I had a heat pump instead of leaving it on longer periods. Your advice appreciated and if I am incorrect, please educate me. Cheers :) The efficiency is decreased when the outside temperature is cold, and the heatpump is in a mode where it tries to heat the room as quickly as possible. That being said, you will still get better efficiency than a regular electric heater. |
somebody (208) | ||
| 879410 | 2010-04-23 07:44:00 | I guess what I like to read up on is on a typical NZ winter how the 2 would compare. 2.4kW HP set at 20 degrees. 2.4kW electric heater with thermostat set at 20 degrees. Or maybe even 2.4kW electric heater set at 20 degrees and when it has reached this you can reduce the power to 1/3 or 2/3 instead. Oil column heaters tend to have either of the 2 buttons or both on. I'm starting to question the 3x bang for your buck theory ... For the main room the conveience may be worth it, sure and we are getting one. But questioning it for the bedroom. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 879411 | 2010-04-23 08:12:00 | Just put more blankets on the bed. I have never had a heated bedroom it would make it harder to sleep and Nelson nights can be very cold and so can the UK nights where I grew up. Maybe not as cold as southland but still damn cold | gary67 (56) | ||
| 879412 | 2010-04-23 08:15:00 | Gary it's my computer / study room too, so I spend half my day here :D Once I get into marginal heat correction and I don't need the quickness and convenience in a bedroom, starting to question the HPs. Would never use it overnight, too expensive. Only would consider having it on 6pm - 10pm. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 879413 | 2010-04-23 08:17:00 | I guess what I like to read up on is on a typical NZ winter how the 2 would compare . 2 . 4kW HP set at 20 degrees . 2 . 4kW electric heater with thermostat set at 20 degrees . Or maybe even 2 . 4kW electric heater set at 20 degrees and when it has reached this you can reduce the power to 1/3 or 2/3 instead . Oil column heaters tend to have either of the 2 buttons or both on . I'm starting to question the 3x bang for your buck theory . . . For the main room the conveience may be worth it, sure and we are getting one . But questioning it for the bedroom . A heatpump (if it's an inverter one - as most are these days) will dial back their power appropriately when you reach the desired temperature . Just like the thermostat on your oil column heater or similar which switches to 1/3 or 2/3 power, your heatpump will do a similar thing . |
somebody (208) | ||
| 879414 | 2010-04-23 08:23:00 | Yes, which now I am questioning if the savings are significant if you have a room that is not too hard to heat . If one compares a throttled back HP vs a throttled back oil column heater if the differences are substantial . I keep hearing marketers say a HP cost 1/3 to heat compared to a std electric heater . :groan: Well from the looks of it, it does not appear the average person would save 66% in their heating cost every day, every month . |
Nomad (952) | ||
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