Anyone else heat their home with an electric heat pump?
I do.
I'm dreading my next electric bill. I actually live in a house that is all-electric. I've been getting dizzy standing outside next to the meter watching that damn thing spin around.
I have to admit that after growing up in a home that had hot-air gas heat, living in a home with a heat pump was a bit of an adjustment.
First off, there's the way it feels. The first winter we spent in our house, when I put my hand over the heat register to feel what was coming out, I actually thought there was some mistake. It felt like the air-conditioner was on. No, I was assured, that's actually the way it is supposed to feel.
We've sort of adjusted. We wear lots of layers in the Heron house.
In addition, the upstairs of the house has always been warmer than the downstairs. Again we've managed to adjust.
But the past couple of weeks, I've noticed something different going on. It's actually been hot upstairs, while the downstairs has stayed at about the same temperature.
And I think I know why. And my wallet is already wincing.
You see once the outside temperature goes down to a certain level, the heat pump switches off and something called "emergency heat" comes on.
I don't know how best to explain it, other than this. It is much more expensive to run that way than the regular heat pump.
The forecast calls for these frigid conditions to continue right into next week, along with snow showers both Saturday and Monday.
Excuse me while I pull the covers back up over my head.
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