[VApeople]

Since we have always had gas heat while living in MD and VA, we assumed we would want it when we buy a house in The Villages. As we look for resale houses with gas heat on the computer, we see a lot of them where the current owners have made modifications which, in our opinion, are very undesirable. Therefore, it may be better for us to buy a newer house with a heat pump.

Do you like the way your heat pump works, or would you rather have a house with gas heat? Have you ever had it replaced with a better model which has made you happier?

In an earlier thread, we asked which neighborhoods had gas heat. In this thread, we are asking if you are happy with your heat pump, which is a different question. You all have given very informative responses to our other questions and we greatly appreciate it.

[villagetinker]

We like our heat pump. Had a gas fired hydronic (baseboard hot water) system back up North that we really liked, with a heat pump as backup (boiler was OLD), and heat pump provided AC during the summer. Here the heat pump works very well. The new thermostats also work very well. We did have to get use to the "de-humidify" function, but have come to realize this is a very good feature.
Spring and fall we typically open the windows, so we just remember to turn off the heat pump.
Hope this helps.

PS, VERY IMPORTANT. If you are dead set on gas heat, look up the threads on CSST (corrugated stainless steel tube), and the problems with fires. As I understand it from these threads, this was a common construction technique in TV. Personally, I would consult with an expert and have the CSST replaced with black iron GAS pipe.

Hope this helps.

[golf2140]

Love it

[Phanatic Luvr]

We were previously from the Philadelphia area and were always steered away from a heat pump up north. We had oil heat for years. In Florida, you hardly ever use your heat pump except on a few mornings when it gets cooler and you need to take the chill out of the house before 11:00am.
A good thing to do, is have your unit serviced on a regular basis. We do twice a year and it cost around $190.00 for the two visits. The a/c unit runs constantly from May thru November so we don't want to take a chance of having that go down in August ... if you know what I mean. Good luck!!!!!

[biker1]

I really don't think you need to worry about this. Heatpumps work fine, in fact they work great in our climate zone, and your heat will not be on very often. Pick the house and location you want regardless of how it is heated (although the gaslines in the attic seem to be an issue with gas heat, see the post above). Keep in mind that whether you have an airconditioner plus gas furnace or a heatpump, the system will probably need replacing in 15 years, your mileage may vary. Airconditioners and heatpumps are virtually identical except for the fact that a heatpump has a reversing valve to allow it to operate in reverse (heat mode). Our heatpump runs a little bit in heat mode in Jan and Feb. The vast majority of the runtime hours are in cooling mode, not heating mode. All else being equal, I would choose a heatpump over AC plus gas furnace.

Originally Posted by VApeople

Since we have always had gas heat while living in MD and VA, we assumed we would want it when we buy a house in The Villages. As we look for resale houses with gas heat on the computer, we see a lot of them where the current owners have made modifications which, in our opinion, are very undesirable. Therefore, it may be better for us to buy a newer house with a heat pump.

Do you like the way your heat pump works, or would you rather have a house with gas heat? Have you ever had it replaced with a better model which has made you happier?

In an earlier thread, we asked which neighborhoods had gas heat. In this thread, we are asking if you are happy with your heat pump, which is a different question. You all have given very informative responses to our other questions and we greatly appreciate it.

[biker1]

I am not trying to nit pick here but please be aware that the "heatpump" is your AC unit. It operates in either heating mode (heat is extracted from the outside air and moved inside) or cooling mode (heat is extracted from the inside air and moved outside).

Originally Posted by Phanatic Luvr

We were previously from the Philadelphia area and were always steered away from a heat pump up north. We had oil heat for years. In Florida, you hardly ever use your heat pump except on a few mornings when it gets cooler and you need to take the chill out of the house before 11:00am.
A good thing to do, is have your unit serviced on a regular basis. We do twice a year and it cost around $190.00 for the two visits. The a/c unit runs constantly from May thru November so we don't want to take a chance of having that go down in August. if you know what I mean. Good luck!!!!!

[graciegirl]

Heat pump is fine. Bill is not high compared to old home. Stucco and block homes hold temperatures well. Air Conditioners wear out here because they are used predominantly. Ours is on right now.

[NYGUY]

We have lived in Florida for 25 years and have had no issues with the combo AC/Heat systems used here.

[jblum315]

I've been told that heat pumps don't function when the outside temperature falls below 45. Seldom happens here, so no way of checking. On the chilliest mornings I turn on the heat for about 20 minutes, then turn it off and all is good.
When I think about paying $400 a month in NY for oil heat I count my blessings

[njbchbum]

Would never have gas service in FL much less the Villages. My heart goes out to all of the residents who lost their gas serviced homes due to lightning strikes.

Grew up with oil heat, live with gas heat up North and love the heat pump in the Villages. Going to replace the heat pump when we arrive for the season - no need to - but it's the ORIGINAL unit installed 25 yrs ago. Hubs figures it's time! lol I'm his original, too...glad that he's not replacing me!

jblum - Never had a prob with heat pump not working regardless of any temp! Luck? And come to think of it, during our 3 mo stays I can't think of ever seeing HVAC work trucks in our area - unless they were there for a routine service call. Know that to be so 'cause EVERYBODY knows when someone's heat/ac goes out - doncha know!

[biker1]

Heatpumps function at essentially any temperature but the amount of heat they move is a function of the outdoor temperature; the lower the outside temperature the less heat, which typically translates into longer run times.

Originally Posted by jblum315

I've been told that heat pumps don't function when the outside temperature falls below 45. Seldom happens here, so no way of checking. On the chilliest mornings I turn on the heat for about 20 minutes, then turn it off and all is good.
When I think about paying $400 a month in NY for oil heat I count my blessings

[goodtimesintv]

Didn't think we'd buy a home with heat pump here because we still definitely prefer gas. However, our home here is all electric with heat pump, and it is fine because it never gets that cold here.

Also, electricity is cheaper here than up north, so our bills have never exceeded $180 in A/C hottest months or winter coldest two months. (40 degrees outside makes it pretty quick to heat the inside of the house when the sun's been shining all day in winter).

All one more reason why TV should be called The Emerald City, like in Wizard of Oz. This place is a dream!

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by jblum315

I've been told that heat pumps don't function when the outside temperature falls below 45. Seldom happens here, so no way of checking. On the chilliest mornings I turn on the heat for about 20 minutes, then turn it off and all is good.
When I think about paying $400 a month in NY for oil heat I count my blessings

Heat pumps work well below 45 degrees, I know this for a fact. When I had the one installed back up north, the "break even point" was to use the heat pump to around 22 degrees, and then after that us the gas hot water system.

[biker1]

We routinely heated our house via a heatpump down to 20F in GA without any issues. I did the Manual J calculations myself for the house (it was a custom home) and speced the heatpump so I knew what to expect. I went with a two-speed compressor and 3 stages of auxiliary heat but the heating strips rarely came on, except when it went in defrost mode. The insulation was a bit over the top, which helped. Heatpumps have an easy job in The Villages because the winters are so mild.

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Heat pumps work well below 45 degrees, I know this for a fact. When I had the one installed back up north, the "break even point" was to use the heat pump to around 22 degrees, and then after that us the gas hot water system.

[VApeople]

Thanks for all of your very informative posts. Since no one has anything really negative about heat pumps, we will start looking at houses with gas heat or heat pumps. This should make our housing search much easier.