Hi,
We have a 135sqm, 3 bed house in Launceston, Tasmania. We have ducted heat transfer that is set up to draw heat from the dining room (using a heat pump) and the lounge (using a wood heater). The rooms are together, not quite open plan. We only used the wood heater on really cold days so maybe 30 days a year. But our wood heater flue is shot and the wood heater hasn't got much life in it. The heat pump is about 15 years old, it is 8.2kw for heating.
The combination has served us well but the broken wood heater means we need to make a decision. We are also worried the heat pump won't last forever, especially if we are ramping it up to keep the house comfortable. Any advice on these options would be great, we're conflicted.....
1) Replace wood heater. Yes the warmth is great, it is the best thing for heat transfer and the simplest option. We have the heat pump for quick heat on not so cold days. But my wife hates the mess and in Launceston we have air quality issues so have ethical dilemma. Also if the heat pump dies then we are left with wood as sole source or to shell out for new heat pump (doubling the price of the project).
2) Put a new heat pump in the lounge and pull out the wood heater. We'd also have to pull out the old heat pump (not enough juice on the power board). It would provide instant heat where needed the most (lounge), more efficient than old one so cosier (or maybe not?). Also in Tassie it is hydro power and we have 1.6kw solar system so good from that point of view. Biggest concern is someone told us that an heat pump not good enough to warm our house with heat transfer and will be working overtime. Don't want it to be inefficient or to wear out quicker. Heat pump salesman came out and reckoned 8.2kw is fine for size of our house though, who to believe?! Also pulling out a working heat pump which seems a waste.
3) Survive with what we have. We did this last winter but went to Europe for the coldest 6 weeks. We have panel heaters as back up for cold days. Least we're not wasting current heat pump but I feel for comfort level this isn't the best option. The house is timber veneer with insulated floors and ceiling, single glazed timber windows. It's not naturally a warm house.
I was favouring option 1 but ethical dilemma of wood smoke has turned me back to option 2. Also if we pull out the old heat pump we can put a new window in the dining room (north facing) as we don't get much sun into the house.
I know this has been covered on various topics but keen for advice specific to my project, especially people's thoughts on using a solo 8.2kw heat pump for heat transfer.
Thanks
Gav
