Heat Pumps

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Wed. Sep. 14, 2022 11:00 am

nut wrote:
Wed. Sep. 14, 2022 9:51 am
Any AC techs here? I would like to get more info on whether nitrogen purging is absolutely necessary or is vacuuming enough. I know nitrogen also pressure tests the lines but some brands are telling customers it is not needed. Maybe they just want to sell mini splits? Not to many DIYers have nitrogen tanks and gauges or are inclined to buy them for one install.
Pressure testing with Nitrogen ensures that you won't have leaks at operating pressures. Just because a system holds vacuum doesn't mean it won't leak at operating pressures. Nitrogen also helps remove moisture from the lines and evaporator. From what I have seen, the high end units with long warranties require a Nitrogen pressure test.

Some of the DIY units don't even require pulling a vacuum on the system. I suspect this is just to increase sales.


 
nut
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Post by nut » Wed. Sep. 14, 2022 11:33 am

I'd be willing to pay a tech to do the final connections but they don't want to come out for a couple hundred dollars. Tried 2 yesterday and both said no and I understand their viewpoint. I have to wonder if they would even come out to service a diy setup. On the other hand paying basically double for a system that is pretty easy seems wrong too. Any suggestion how to get a nitrogen setup for one install?

 
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hotblast1357
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Post by hotblast1357 » Wed. Sep. 14, 2022 12:18 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Wed. Sep. 14, 2022 9:06 am
Looks like you might get to try it tomorrow morning. Weatherman said 30's in your area.
Yup, I have my downstairs one on now, set to 71 degrees, might be kicking on the upstairs tonight for the next couple days at least.

Wish I had a cheap way to record KWH for just the mini split.

 
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BigBarney
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Post by BigBarney » Fri. Sep. 16, 2022 3:05 pm

You can get a meter socket and meter for less than $100. I have these with the

old style socket and they work fine. Maybe you could find an old 4 meter channel

with meters for the $100. Try online sales and see what you can come up with.

With this you could monitor 4 circuits for usage.

I monitor my heat pump DHWH to see the daily usage.

BigBarney

 
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hotblast1357
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Post by hotblast1357 » Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 9:02 am

First full electric bill came in, I pay .15/kWh, cost around $50 for last month to heat downstairs and upstairs with the heat pump, keeping both 70-72. My break point for coal will be around $90 per month, figure minimum 30lbs of coal per day, .10/lb that’s $90 a month to idle my boiler. We are trying to conserve as much coal as possible due to current life events, we purchased 2 TT loads in 2020, hoping that gets us till the fall of 2025..

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 10:05 am

hotblast1357 wrote:
Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 9:02 am
First full electric bill came in, I pay .15/kWh, cost around $50 for last month to heat downstairs and upstairs with the heat pump, keeping both 70-72. My break point for coal will be around $90 per month, figure minimum 30lbs of coal per day, .10/lb that’s $90 a month to idle my boiler. We are trying to conserve as much coal as possible due to current life events, we purchased 2 TT loads in 2020, hoping that gets us till the fall of 2025..
Considering how many frosty nights you have had, that doesn't seem bad at all.

 
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hotblast1357
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Post by hotblast1357 » Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 10:47 am

Rob R. wrote:
Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 10:05 am
Considering how many frosty nights you have had, that doesn't seem bad at all.
I didn’t think so either! I’ve witnessed the heat pump in defrost mode 4 times in the morning around 5:30-6, which is about the coldest time.


 
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Post by nut » Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 11:56 am

Which heat pump are you using?

 
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hotblast1357
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Post by hotblast1357 » Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 12:38 pm

nut wrote:
Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 11:56 am
Which heat pump are you using?
I purchased a copper and hunter brand.

 
LouNY
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Post by LouNY » Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 7:55 pm

This was an interesting read especially as it started. I use my oil fired boiler to maintain my boiler mate HW.
I had considered adding an electric HW heater but have been leary of doing so as the only people I know that have boiler issues are the ones that let them sit cold all summer, the ones that stay hot seem to work for a long time. The idea of a Heat Pump water heater tied into my boiler and keeping the boiler hot to make my HW sounds interesting.

 
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Post by franpipeman » Mon. Oct. 24, 2022 4:19 pm

i saw a photography recently where the minis split l out door unit, conducer fan is ducted into a green house . I think it was in vermont ,in essence they used the hot greenhouse for condenser air and it would improve the coeffiecient of performance in colder days for longer times.

 
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hotblast1357
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Post by hotblast1357 » Mon. Oct. 24, 2022 8:46 pm

franpipeman wrote:
Mon. Oct. 24, 2022 4:19 pm
i saw a photography recently where the minis split l out door unit, conducer fan is ducted into a green house . I think it was in vermont ,in essence they used the hot greenhouse for condenser air and it would improve the coeffiecient of performance in colder days for longer times.
Makes sense I guess, could deff use it during the day when the suns out.

 
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Post by ColdHouse » Sat. Oct. 29, 2022 10:36 am

I had two heat pumps installed recently. I have a 3.5 ton Trane for the upper two floors and a 1.5 ton Champion for the lower level walkout basement. I had every intention of using heat pump this time of year but the Trane kicks into Auxiliary heat mode when outside temperatures are below about 40*. The Champion has not kicked into that mode. Auxiliary heat is my oil boiler which I have shut off. With all that said, I elected to start my Hitzer Stove in the lower level and let the heat radiate up. When it gets colder I will fire up the second stove. If one of the upper levels is cold and outside temperature is above 40 I could run the heat pump. I was expecting that it would work even at close to zero. Maybe something could be done to make it work but I have too many irons in the fire and don't really care at this moment. My guess is that nothing is going to be cheaper than coal to heat with.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Nov. 14, 2022 7:04 pm

hotblast1357 wrote:
Sun. Oct. 23, 2022 12:38 pm
I purchased a copper and hunter brand.
Now that the cold weather is upon us I wondered how you were making out with the heat pumps?

 
LouNY
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Post by LouNY » Mon. Nov. 14, 2022 7:47 pm

We are still comfortable on our heat pumps. 30F at 7:30PM outside and 72F in our living room and kitchen.


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