EcoRenovator - View Single Post - A7 AirTap install (ASHP hot water heater)

warmwxrules · 01-04-13, 10:20 PM

Ringer-

I'm torn on what to do here. I have natural gas available, but have been using electric for the past couple years (stupid, i know, but it was cheap and i was dumb). I'm either moving back to NG (not powervent) or possibly heat pump, but am scared that DecJanFebMar it will be useless *unheated basement* in this z4 climate (we average 26 nights below 0F). Obviously May/June/July/Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov it would probably make "free" hot water (heat pump only). I've seen NG tanks for as low as $315 (new) at Menards... vs over $1k for the heat pump tank (not building one...no time/3 kids/etc).

You say your basement is 50F and its still heat pump only? How cold will it need to get before it doesn't work? Is your basement insulated from the 1st floor?

I do like the thought of "free" basement AC in the summer.

My unheated basement (non insulated floor/basement) is already down to 54F (1st floor set at 66F).

I'll probably go NG for now and hope to move to some sort of solar hot water/heat pump down the road...

01-04-13, 10:20 PM	#206
warmwxrules Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ringer- I'm torn on what to do here. I have natural gas available, but have been using electric for the past couple years (stupid, i know, but it was cheap and i was dumb). I'm either moving back to NG (not powervent) or possibly heat pump, but am scared that DecJanFebMar it will be useless unheated basement in this z4 climate (we average 26 nights below 0F). Obviously May/June/July/Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov it would probably make "free" hot water (heat pump only). I've seen NG tanks for as low as $315 (new) at Menards... vs over $1k for the heat pump tank (not building one...no time/3 kids/etc). You say your basement is 50F and its still heat pump only? How cold will it need to get before it doesn't work? Is your basement insulated from the 1st floor? I do like the thought of "free" basement AC in the summer. My unheated basement (non insulated floor/basement) is already down to 54F (1st floor set at 66F). I'll probably go NG for now and hope to move to some sort of solar hot water/heat pump down the road...