heat pump in northern california

[zellers]

Hi all,

I live in a house built in 1934, in the Santa Cruz mountains (south of San Francisco.) The average winter temperature is in the upper 30s and 40s, although already this year we've had a few days at 32F (probably 10 such days per year.) It also rains - about 60 inches per year, mostly in the winter.

The house has no heat save for two wood burning stoves (in seldom used rooms) and electric space heaters in the master bedroom. So, coupled with a lack of insulation, it gets very cold for us in this house. (We've already got the insulation plans, thats a no brainer) But I'd like to get some advice on installing a centeral heating system.

Natural gas is not available and for some reason my wife is adamant about not going with Propane, so we're considering installing an electric heat system, in particular an air exchange heat pump.

The contractor that I first talked to about this seemed to indicate I'd be "miserable" when the temp went below 40F, but my reading about heat pumps (and the best information seemed to come from a Canadian government website) would indicate that they are still effective down to 32F. I realize that at the colder temperature the unit will have to use electrical resistence heating to raise the temp.

Any thoughts on using heat pumps in this type of climate?

Thanks,
--smz

[SSN596]

A modern high efficiency heat pump is usable down to 30º, maybe a litle lower. But the lower the temperature, the more you will need the back-up electric.

In a poorly insulated house, some folks are not happy with heat pumps because the heated air is only few degress warmer than the house air, so the forced air feels cool. More back-up heat will help.

You need a large circuit for the back up heat, possible 50 or 60 amps 240 volts, depending on the size of the house.

Considering that gas in not an option, heat pumps are much more environmentally friendly than wood burning stoves and fireplaces.