[upstate]

Originally Posted by dsharp1

Another vote for Chuck Farrell

Agreed.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

The difference between an "air conditioner" and a "heat pump" is essentially a reversing valve and circuitry for defrost mode. The difference in cost between using "heat strips" and the "heat mode" of a heat pump is approximately 3x. In other words, a heat pump will generate the same amount of heat as heat strips for 1/3 the cost. The incremental cost to install an air conditioner vs. a heat pump is minimal since most of the equipment is the same. I have not experienced repair of maintenance issues with the heat pumps I have owned. Your HVAC contractor should be able to tell you the cost difference and with some minimal research you should be able to determine whether a heat pump is cost effective based on the lower operating cost during heating season (compared with using heating strips).

1. The instructor was simply telling the class that over the life of the equipment the service technicians would enjoy a greater revenue stream from the maintenance and repair of heat pumps than from conventional air conditioners with heat strips.

2. The A/C unit in my house in Tampa will accept 5 heat strips, but only has 3 installed because the winters are so mild that 3 is sufficient to warm the house. This IS Florida.

And the absence of the "reversing valve and circuitry" means one less thing to go wrong.

By the way, heat pumps have heat strips for conditions where it is so cold outside that the heat exchanger won't work and heat strips are necessary to warm the house. That is what that "emergency" setting on the thermostat is for.

I wasn't offering advice. Just giving information. It works for me.

[tuccillo]

A couples of points. The reversing valve and defrost circuitry are not typically items that fail. Most of the failures of HVAC equipment are evaporator coils and compressors (these are components that are used in both cooling and heating mode). For Florida, the primary use of heating strips should be when the system goes into defrost mode. For most systems, the temperature is not low enough to require heating strips to supplement the heat pump. I live in SE GA and my heating strips have never come on (except for when the system goes into defrost mode). To say that the "heat exchanger won't work" when it is "cold" is not really accurate. The amount of heat that a heat pump produces (actually transfers) is reduced as the outside temperature drops. At some point, the heat loss of the house could exceed the heat produced by the heat pump and the heat strips would need to come on to maintain the temperature of the house. Again, in FL, this is not a typical event. Regardless, heat pumps are still good investments. My experience with both AC systems (with gas heat) and heat pumps is such that heat pumps are no less reliable and are very energy efficient. Your mileage may vary. Just giving information based on my experience with having heat pumps for 15 years.

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

1. The instructor was simply telling the class that over the life of the equipment the service technicians would enjoy a greater revenue stream from the maintenance and repair of heat pumps than from conventional air conditioners with heat strips.

2. The A/C unit in my house in Tampa will accept 5 heat strips, but only has 3 installed because the winters are so mild that 3 is sufficient to warm the house. This IS Florida.

And the absence of the "reversing valve and circuitry" means one less thing to go wrong.

By the way, heat pumps have heat strips for conditions where it is so cold outside that the heat exchanger won't work and heat strips are necessary to warm the house. That is what that "emergency" setting on the thermostat is for.

I wasn't offering advice. Just giving information. It works for me.

[tuccillo]

A history of HVAC system in homes we have owned and the failures:

Heat pump: 4 years, no issues (Maryland)
Heat pump: 4 years, no issues (Virginia)
AC with gas furnace: 4 years, evaporator coil leak after 3 years (Maryland)
AC with gas furnace: 10 years, evaporator coil leak after 8 years (Georgia)
Heat pump: 9 years, evaporator coil leak after 8 years (Georgia)

All system were new as the homes were bought/built new. I would not shy away from a heat pump because of perceived reliability issues. If you get 15 years out of either an AC or heat pump without a major issue you are doing well. These systems just don't last that long but in heat mode a heat pump is much lower cost to operate than using heating strips.

Originally Posted by tuccillo

A couples of points. The reversing valve and defrost circuitry are not typically items that fail. Most of the failures of HVAC equipment are evaporator coils and compressors (these are components that are used in both cooling and heating mode). For Florida, the primary use of heating strips should be when the system goes into defrost mode. For most systems, the temperature is not low enough to require heating strips to supplement the heat pump. I live in SE GA and my heating strips have never come on (except for when the system goes into defrost mode). To say that the "heat exchanger won't work" when it is "cold" is not really accurate. The amount of heat that a heat pump produces (actually transfers) is reduced as the outside temperature drops. At some point, the heat loss of the house could exceed the heat produced by the heat pump and the heat strips would need to come on to maintain the temperature of the house. Again, in FL, this is not a typical event. Regardless, heat pumps are still good investments. My experience with both AC systems (with gas heat) and heat pumps is such that heat pumps are no less reliable and are very energy efficient. Your mileage may vary. Just giving information based on my experience with having heat pumps for 15 years.

[Cebby]

What is the name of Chuck Farrells company? If any. Thanks

[Redman SC]

Vincent air the best

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by Aruca

American Standard which is Trane....
Might this be a concern previous posts said Trane is having problems
Munn stopped using Trane...don't know what Munn installs now
What is being installed these days

To answer your question above - we just made settlement on a new home 2 weeks ago and the heat pump is a Carrier unit and Sun Kool was the company that installed it.

[Foxmd]

I recommend Alex McGovern 352-432-5311 (Arctic Cooling and Refrigeration) very highly!
Smart, efficient and reasonable.