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(07-12-2020, 05:51 PM)mdhills Wrote: How good are the electric options for heating (HVAC or water)?
(I've been used to natural gas for these; seems like the region is encouraging a shift towards electricity for these)
thanks,
Matt
Air source heat pumps have come a long way. Heat pump water heaters also.
WoodNET... the new safespace
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The heat pump waterheaters are getting pretty good. They are very efficient when water usage is low. When you use lots of hot water it will revert to conventional elements to keep up unless you have it set to only run in heat pump mode. One great benefit is that it cools and dehumidifies your garage. The bad part is you also have a condensate line you have to drain somewhere.
For heat Heat pumps are getting better and since it doesn't very cold where you are they will work well for you. In colder climates they are hit or miss. My parents switch theirs over to emergency heat and bypass the heat pump mode because it runs and runs and runs and runs like the AC does this time of year when it's 104* and super humid...
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(07-12-2020, 05:51 PM)mdhills Wrote: How good are the electric options for heating (HVAC or water)?
(I've been used to natural gas for these; seems like the region is encouraging a shift towards electricity for these)
thanks,
Matt
You are in CA? And there is a push to move to using MORE electricity??? I know it has been a while since rolling blackouts have been in the news, but are those still a thing? Probably not during heating season (?), but I wouldn't want to loose hot water that easily.
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We've had heat pumps for the last 30 years, and they have indeed come a long way from the early models. Even so, if I had nat gas, there's no way I'd switch to electric anything.
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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We had our house built in 1998, the builder suggested in ground heat source (which I am very happy with) I had to replace it 4 years ago. So I'm all electric and my utility bills are and always have been under $200 each month. Only once I lost power and that was for less than 4 hours. My neighbor converted to in ground also because his propane was between $600 - $700, but that was when the cost of it was through the roof.
Do they allow in ground heat source in the Bay area?
Jim