I have a heat pump set on emergency heat (that turns outside unit off and just basically a non-efficient furnace then), but when it gets below 20 degrees it is worthless. I have another propane fireplace, but the extra tank propane in another room sure helps. I use to burn wood, but by the time I burnt the floor up from sparking out, smoked the house up, getting wood in, keeping a chainsaw and wood splitter going it is not cheap heat, not to mentioned all the work which was probably good exercise.@jltrent are you running a heat pump?
I have two carbon monoxide detectors in the house mostly for the fireplace propane heat and since 1999 I have never heard them go off. I buy new ones every few years and replace batteries maybe every five years.Not worried about carbon monoxide?
They are all supposed to turn on aux heat automatically if thermostat is set 3 degrees above room temp or after a set amount of time if temperature has not increased by an acceptable amount, that is all actually controlled by the thermostat but even when it does so the heat pump will still run unless manually swapped to Aux.I have a newer Bosch heat pump and it does good until it hits single digits. When it can't keep up it automatically turns on aux heat which is a 20kw electric heat strip. Thankfully the aux heat doesn't run much…
They are all supposed to turn on aux heat automatically if thermostat is set 3 degrees above room temp or after a set amount of time if temperature has not increased by an acceptable amount, that is all actually controlled by the thermostat but even when it does so the heat pump will still run unless manually swapped to Aux.
I've installed several duel fuel systems over the years that I really liked. Heat pump with 90+% furnace as backup heat. I installed an outdoor thermostat that would turn off heat pimp below whatever temp you set dial to, I always set for 35, and swap to gas heat. Everyone I installed them for has loved them and that 90%+ furnace is very efficient. Typically in Arkansas we don't stay below freezing more than a day or 2 and overnight. I'm really surprised as far north as you are that they install heat pumps in that area.
It Natural (gas) is plentiful and cheap. Propane more expensive but also very plentiful.I guess it's a matter of perspective because I can't imagine using gas heat that far south.
exactly what I was thinking!!Not worried about carbon monoxide?
We have one in our basement (finished basement with stairway open to upstairs) except it is a blue flame instead of infrared. We have central heat pump up stairs, I have it turned to aux heat right now and set at 65 with the bluflame downstairs on high and a box fan at the bottom of the stairs to blow heat up. I also have a bluflame in my garage, that's where we put our dog and cat when it's cold. They're very efficient.View attachment 39859
I wouldn't be caught dead without something like this in the house. No power needed, will keep an average home in comfortable heat. Cheap. I tell people, if you have to use it one time in your life due to a power outage, it's paid for itself. Plus it will knock the edge off that huge electric bill when things get really cold.
View attachment 39859
I wouldn't be caught dead without something like this in the house. No power needed, will keep an average home in comfortable heat. Cheap. I tell people, if you have to use it one time in your life due to a power outage, it's paid for itself. Plus it will knock the edge off that huge electric bill when things get really cold.
I prefer the blue flame myself.We have one in our basement (finished basement with stairway open to upstairs) except it is a blue flame instead of infrared. We have central heat pump up stairs, I have it turned to aux heat right now and set at 65 with the bluflame downstairs on high and a box fan at the bottom of the stairs to blow heat up. I also have a bluflame in my garage, that's where we put our dog and cat when it's cold. They're very efficient.