Sales are growing so quickly that some installers wonder whether heat pumps could even wipe out the demand for new air conditioners in a few years and put a significant dent in the number of natural gas furnaces.

  • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    Here in Saskatchewan, NG is also significantly cheaper than electricity. So, with our high heating demands, those who have access to NG often choose that.

    It makes sense, because they burn gas to make the electricity. I understand a heat pump can create a lot more heat than just an element would, though, so it still comes out cheaper.

    It would be unwise to not have a backup heat source if you’re installing a heat pump in Canada. Some may claim their balance point is well into the -20s, but relying on a system that cannot provide adequate heat in extreme cold events could get rather dangerous.

    I hear there’s work being done to make more cold-resistant ones. For myself, I wonder about the ground-loop systems. They’re more expensive, but I don’t know by how much.

    • OminousOrange@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Running heat pump isn’t cheaper than NG in Saskatchewan. Natural gas is about 9x cheaper than electricity for the same amount of energy. A heat pump also doesn’t create heat, it only moves it. It can be over 300% efficient, but natural gas is still cheaper to heat the same space.

      Ground loop (geothermal) is significantly more expensive to install and also needs to be designed properly or it will remove the available heat from the ground in just a decade.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        needs to be designed properly or it will remove the available heat from the ground in just a decade.

        Well, yeah, any HVAC system needs to be properly designed.

      • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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        1 year ago

        Not sure this should be downvoted, I’m guessing this guy knows his local prices, and the rest sounds right or just is right.

        • OminousOrange@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          I don’t know why either. It’s part of my job to know these things, but I’m happy to reassess if anyone has information that contradicts what I’ve said.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      For myself, I wonder about the ground-loop systems. They’re more expensive, but I don’t know by how much.

      More expensive to install, and may not be possible in a normal city lot.

      But there are situations when it is the sinning choice. My brother did a new house build on a rural property about 10 years ago and went with a ground source system (with supplemental electric heat for the coldest days in those cold Manitoba winters). The incremental cost was not that much, since the had the space for the outdoor loop, and had the construction equipment already on-site.

      He is very happy with it.

      • tempest@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Ground loops are a great choice if it is an option since the ground loop is often on the right side of the equation, cooler than air in the summer and warmer than air in the winter.