Setting Back T-Stat Question

[cuatvmi]

Hello-

I had a new Heil 14 SEER heat pump system installed about 6 months ago and have been setting back the thermostat each evening.

In the mornings its seems like the heat pump runs all morning to get the temperature back up to 72 from 68.

I live in northern Virginia so the outside termperature doesn't usually drop below 25-30 in the evening.

My question is whether or not I should just leave the system set at 72 in the evenings or continue to set it back to 68 in order to obtain the most energy savings?

Thanks in advance!

[skippedover]

HPs don't have the capacity normally to make substantial increases in room temperature without some sort of aux heat to help. So if you don't have aux heaters or don't choose to use them for the step-up, I'd probably recommend not stepping down unless you do it for comfort. In that case, what is, is. But you can see that there's a substantial cost penalty on the increase side that may not be saved on the down cycle side.

If you question the operation of the unit as not being adequate, have a good quality HP company comem out and evaluate the system for you. In fact, tie it in with an annual tune-up and kill two birds with one check! In fact, you should sign an agreement with a good company to provide regular system check-ups, just like you'd have regular service done on your automobile.

[beenthere]

As Skip said, HPs are not quick revovery heating appliances.
Also, if you have aux heaters, and it does use them for recovery.
The strip heaters tend to cost more in electric, then you saved during over night set back.

[cuatvmi]

Thanks for help!

[DanW13]

From what I have read thur out these forums when running a duel fuel heating system it is not cost effective to set-back a HP overnite atleast not using a huge set-back or more than 2 degrees will not benefit you. If you were using strictly a NG or Propane, or heatinf oil furnace then you could set-back your furnace over night as much as 6 degrees and it would recover in plenty of time, but then again while using strictly a HP to heat your home you much better off just setting it and forget it will give you much more efficiency, you also have to remember that when you set back a HP or furnace at night time everything in the home needs to be heated up again, floors, furniture, walls ceilings so thats where having a HP lose's when it has to heat more than just the ambient air in the home.

[cem-bsee]

why did you not get a programmable t-stat
& use it?

[Airmechanical]

in general, for customer's with heat pumps and strip heat for backup;

i recommend not setting back more than 2 degrees

you can set back more, but economical recovery get's complicated

for instance, with heat pump and strip heat for backup;

you can setback 4 degrees;

BUT to keep the recovery economical, when recovering, utilize 2 programs of 2 degree recoveries

using 2 recovery programs of 2 degrees each program in the example above will keep strip heaters off

this will also vary according to CPH's and other parameters chosen on of t-stat)



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