For those of you who have followed the story on the new technology heat pumps I brought in from Italy there turns out to be some snags. Wouldn't you know it.
So here is the latest...
A number one: Although these things DO use gas at a VERY efficient rate (up to 157% of input) they do in fact burn gas at all times throughout the operation. I was led to believe they did NOT use gas down to a very low outdoor temp and have related that here, so we all now know that this is not the case.
Secondly and equally important. Yes these things will STILL use gas at 100% of input down to -4*F outdoor temp, there's not another fossil fuel fired heating appliance on the planet that will do so. Unfortunately the manufacturer fails to note in anywhere in the literature in clear language that as soon as it goes BELOW -4* outdoor temp the process ceases to work and therefore THEY SHUT DOWN!! AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!
At this point, given the above average tightness of the house and the nice heated 6"+ concrete slab in the basement we THINK they will be able to do this and let us get away with not adding additional means of heating. Only because it gets that cold only a few days during winter in this area and only overnight. Once the sun comes up the temp comes right back up.
If it turns out that we DO need additional heat I'm going to yank one of them and replace it with a conventional. Then you know who is going to have a nice new heat pump for his own little house. I've been contemplating replacing the boiler and adding central A/C so it's not THAT bad of a thing should it turn out that way.
I'll keep you all posted.