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my son won't be happy with keeping the temp up at night. He's a hot sleeper.
My wife on the other hand...she'll be ecstatic.
See what it does to my energy bills too.
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. - Philip K. Dick
Mark
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meackerman said:
See what it does to my energy bills too.
That will be the proof, if it's enough to move the bill one way or the other.
I started with absolutely nothing. Now, thanks to years of hard work, careful planning, and perseverance, I find I still have most of it left.
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my winter electricity bill was the prime reason I installed solar.
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. - Philip K. Dick
Mark
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thooks said:
I don't know if there is an adjustable setting that can be made as to when it kicks on with relation to the difference in space temp and setpoint.
This depends on the thermostat. Mine does. I have it set to like 20 degrees differential and not to come on except if the outside air is less than ten degrees. Never once missed them, and I use a setback like you do.
Mike
Non impediti ratione cogitationis
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The outside stat is probably a pot on the board in the outside unit.
Mike
Non impediti ratione cogitationis
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Terry W said:
Thanks for the feedback. To answer a couple of questions, I'm in Zone 7. Upper West South Carolina foothills. There is no outside thermostat, just the one indoors.
I called my HVAC guy and he said pretty much the same thing you all did. The unit has no idea if it's 20 or 50 degees outside, it just responds to the indoor thermostat. If there is a 2 degree or greater heat demand, it kicks on the Aux heat to quickly get it up to the demand temp.
I'm surprised. I would have thought that it would be at least a 5 degree (or more) difference before it would kick on the expensive to run heat strips.
This is what my guy said, too.
Also, heat pumps become very inefficient below a certain temp, like maybe 35 degrees. When the outside temp gets down really cold, I think it basically runs on aux heat, but I may be wrong about that.
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mine seems to cost me a whole bunch more money to run when its down below freezing (or somewhere thereabouts).
good thing that usually only happens a handful or two times a winter.
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. - Philip K. Dick
Mark
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Terry W said:
We had a new Trane XR15 heat pump installed three months ago. I’ve noticed that aux heat is kicking in more than I think it should, given the temperatures.
May be the wrong thermostat - heat pump thermostats increase the heat only 2 degrees at a time to avoid activating the aux heat. If you use a regular thermostat and change the temp more than 2 degrees, the aux heat will be activated.
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My heat pump kicks out at 34 degrees and gas takes over. Originally was set to transfer to aux at lower temp. It is adjustable on the outside unit. Leave thermostat set at one temp. I'm sure it has saved us $ over past nine years, however the compressor has to be replaced earlier and I like the feel of the warmer heat when the gas furnace is operating!!
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My heat pump puts out plenty of heat but it takes a couple minutes to reach full heat output.
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. - Philip K. Dick
Mark
