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QUESTION:I have had a heat pump (16 seer) 3 years now, and am very satified with
winter utility cost, I live in the midwest and the winters can be brutal. I
have the outside thermostate on the unit set to operate down to 17 degs.
So far this winter the elecrtic bill has been no higher than $75, the n/gas
bill $68. Maybe $5-$10 in past years higher.
I have a set back thermostate, set back to 67 at night, 69 during the day
and 73 in the evening till 10:00 PM.
I received a notice from the electric utility to set it and forget it to
save more $$$.
My house is a ranch, 12 yrs old, 2K sq ft.
Whats your opinion?
ANSWER: In that case, either someone at your electric company is seriously
misinformed, or they are deliberately misinforming the public so they can
sell more electric. In the majority of cases, it's definitely cheaper to set
a heat pump back at night if the fuel used to raise the temperature the next
morning is natural gas. You might even try to find a better 'economic
balance point'. Did the installer do a Manual J heat loss calculation and
come up with the 17 degree balance point? If he didn't, then try moving the
balance point up to 30 degrees and see if you save more money.
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