davewick
New Member
Posts:13
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| 25 Jan 2011 04:11 PM |
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After 2+ months of being operational I'm still getting use to how my heat pump cycles through the day. Up until the temps have really dropped there's been a predicable on/off cycle through the day.
That's changed since the extreme cold weather has hit. The HP is on for hours at a time, with it only occasionally going in to stage two. So far it's been able to keep the house at a comfortable temperature, but I just worried that there may be a problem with extended, multi hour run times.
Also, I've purposefully not turned on the electric emergency heat. Unless these extended runtimes are bad, I'd rather not waste the $$ on the coil heaters.
Thanks
David |
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ICFHybrid
Veteran Member
Posts:3039
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| 25 Jan 2011 04:30 PM |
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I don't think that is unusual. I have a proposal for a new geo system that shows runtimes of 100% as the outside air temp gets down around 25F or so. That's the engineering plan.
Don't know about your particular system, but if you disable the resistance heat isn't there a chance that the system will think there is something wrong if it consistently can't meet thermostat setting? |
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IndyGEO
New Member
Posts:17
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| 25 Jan 2011 05:10 PM |
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Your system is operating fine. Just like your car, it is the starting and stoping that is the hardest on the unit. Turn your strip heat back on and leave it on. |
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geome
Advanced Member
Posts:987
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| 25 Jan 2011 07:10 PM |
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If your geothermal system can run in 100% of the time (or less) and still maintain your thermostat set point, then there is no need for aux heat. Why bring down the geothermal efficiency by mixing in electric resistance heat that is only 100 percent efficient? You can re-enable aux provided it doesn't turn on when it isn't necessary (see first sentence.) If it does turn on, we can see if there are some thermostat settings that may help. I suggest monitoring your loop temperature to make sure it is within the spec for your equipment.
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| Homeowner with WF Envision NDV038 (packaged) & NDZ026 (split), one 3000' 4 pipe closed horizontal ground loop, Prestige thermostats, desuperheaters, 85 gal. Marathon. |
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engineer
Veteran Member
Posts:2749
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| 25 Jan 2011 11:38 PM |
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Long run times in stage one are fine, actually excellent - the system is at its most efficient during multi-hour run times in low stage. That 2nd stage is picking up the slack during extremes is fine as well.
If you are comfortable without strip heat, leave it off while you are at home - Don't leave the house unoccupied without strips able to come on - why risk freezing pipes or worse just because of a compressor or pump fault? |
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Curt Kinder <br><br>
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is - Winston Churchill <br><br><a href="http://www.greenersolutionsair.com">www.greenersolutionsair.com</a>
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davewick
New Member
Posts:13
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| 26 Jan 2011 09:54 AM |
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Thanks to everyone who replied. This certainly clears up any doubt I had, and can ease my mind from constantly listening for the heat pump cycling.
-D
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geome
Advanced Member
Posts:987
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| 26 Jan 2011 10:27 AM |
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The long run times do take some getting use to. :-) |
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| Homeowner with WF Envision NDV038 (packaged) & NDZ026 (split), one 3000' 4 pipe closed horizontal ground loop, Prestige thermostats, desuperheaters, 85 gal. Marathon. |
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