Best Decesion Query

[PGPGSR]

I have a home that was built in the 60's. It has hydronic heat. About 8 years ago I added a air handler with central air.

The unit is 10 SEER.

Q1. Should I leave it alone and just pay the high electric bill?

Q2. Replace it with a heat pump?

Q3. Go all the way to geothermal?

Thanks

[beenthere]

Its a shame to pull a perfectly good wotking A/C just to save a few bucks in cooling mode.

You may want to consider pulling it, and replacing it with a heatpump with a hydro coil as your aux heat.
That way, when the heat pump can't heat the house by its self, teh boiler comes on to help, but your still saving money on your oil, because teh heat pump is still running.
It would be a dual fuel heat pump. Might cut you oil consumption in half.

[arc8]

It has hydronic heat. About 8 years ago I added a air handler with central air.

The unit is 10 SEER.

Q1. Should I leave it alone and just pay the high electric bill?

Q2. Replace it with a heat pump?

Q3. Go all the way to geothermal?

Nothing wrong with a 10 SEER unit that is operating at the highest efficiency possible!

My Questions:
Q1. does the AHU have resistive heat?
Q2. how does the hydronic get heated? fossil fuel or electric?
Q3. are you willing to pay lots for geothermal system?

Please answer these first!

Al

[PGPGSR]

Nothing wrong with a 10 SEER unit that is operating at the highest efficiency possible!

My Questions:
Q1. does the AHU have resistive heat?
Q2. how does the hydronic get heated? fossil fuel or electric?
Q3. are you willing to pay lots for geothermal system?

Please answer these first!

Al

A1. Yes, but very seldomly used. Only when problems with boiler.
A2. Fuel Oil
A3. At 57 years old, I'm not sure I will see the payback. At $4.00+ for oil and a yearly consumption of 450 gallons I'm just trying to save money.

[arc8]

Does your utility company offer off-peak or reduced rates for dual sources of heat?

If yes, maybe you should install an electric boiler with either an LP boiler or higher eff oil boiler!!!

Al

[beenthere]

The heat pump will off peak rates still be cheaper to use then an electric boiler with off peak rates.

A high efficiency boiler may only reduce his oil consumption by 50 gallions. Long long time before ROI.

[arc8]

PGPGSR

If you could live with a HP heating your house instead of an hydronic system, then do it.

But, i did not measure your house, so i can not suggest the best system for your annual operating cost!

Al

[beenthere]

450 gallions of oil current consumption. New high efficiency boiler, if it cuts his consumption by 35%, 157 gallions. 8 years to break even at current oil cost.

[PGPGSR]

450 gallions of oil current consumption. New high efficiency boiler, if it cuts his consumption by 35%, 157 gallions. 8 years to break even at current oil cost.

I have what was considered a high efficency boiler 20 years ago. It is a Burnham V1-96. I thoroughly clean it every year.

[beenthere]

I have what was considered a high efficency boiler 20 years ago. It is a Burnham V1-96. I thoroughly clean it every year.

So just getting a higher efficiency oil boiler is a waste of money.

[PGPGSR]

So just getting a higher efficiency oil boiler is a waste of money.

In my opinion also. That is why I am contemplating a heat pump or geothermal. I think that I have ruled out simply getting a higher SEER A/C. But that way I wouldn't have to replace the air handler.

By the way, my Wife has COPD so my A/C is on from April until October.

[beenthere]

With a heat pump, get everything new. That way, full warranty on everything.
And have a hydro coil installed to use your oil as aux heat.