My new Heating System

moyer777 · December 16, 2009, 12:24:59 PM

Well, what a crazy few weeks it has been here at the Moyer household.

We had a very scary thing happen last weekend. Our Pellet Stove malfunctioned and pushed thick white smoke all throughout the house. It was around 3 a.m. and the smoke detectors didn't work. Amy woke up to the smell, our door was closed, but then when we opened it we almost lost it. We thought the house was on fire, I checked on Catherine, then on Andrew and we opened all the doors and windows. It was 20 degrees out! Brrrr. We found the pellet stove shooting out sparks and smoke into the house. We got it shut off and put fans in the doors and windows, but realized how fortunate we were that we woke up. Another 10 minutes and I wouldn't be writing you this. :( SO, I got rid of our Pellet Stove. It was 20 years old and not really efficient. I now have new smoke alarms and a healthy appreciation of being alive.

The problem was that we didn't have any money for a new heating system. We have baseboard heaters, but they are VERY expensive to use. I did a lot of research on what would be best for our home. In a matter of a couple of days we had some very cool folks help us purchase a new Ductless Heat Pump. I got a great rebate from our local power company and it qualifies for a tax write off too. It was a little more expensive than I originally thought, so we dipped into savings for a little bit, but are still very thankful for heat without dust, fire danger and 86-90% efficiency. WOW! So I'm very excited.

We fired it up this morning. And already our house is toasty warm. Get this, it heats and cools our house for under $20 a month. Yeah, go figure! That is really amazing. It is really geeky too. It has a cylon heat temperature eye that roams the main room for hot or cold areas, and it adjusts accordingly.

Here are some pictures of it.

Rico · December 16, 2009, 12:30:13 PM

That's awesome Rick! Must have been scary with that smoke in the house. Any idea why the smoke detectors didn't go off? Mine go off if I light a match and blow it out! Make sure they have good batteries and are functioning. If you have doubts, replace them. Smoke detectors are cheap and they are well worth it.

moyer777 · December 16, 2009, 12:35:46 PM

The detectors were broken. :( they worked a few months ago. But I have new ones now. You are right, they were inexpensive and these are much better ones. The other ones were 15 years old. So , all updated now. You are right, it was very scarey!

sheldor · December 16, 2009, 12:54:28 PM

Quote from: moyer777 on December 16, 2009, 12:24:59 PM
Well, what a crazy few weeks it has been here at the Moyer household.

We had a very scarey thing happen last weekend. Our Pellet Stove malfunctioned and pushed thick white smoke all throughout the house. It was around 3 a.m. and the smoke detectors didn't work. Amy woke up to the smell, our door was closed, but then when we opened it we almost lost it. We thought the house was on fire, I checked on Catherine, then on Andrew and we opened all the doors and windows. It was 20 degrees out! Brrrr. We found the pellet stove shooting out sparks and smoke into the house. We got it shut off and put fans in the doors and windows, but realized how fortunate we were that we woke up. Another 10 minutes and I wouldn't be writing you this. :( SO, I got rid of our Pellet Stove. It was 20 years old and not really efficient. I now have new smoke alarms and a healthy appreciation of being alive.

The problem was that we didn't have any money for a new heating system. We have baseboard heaters, but they are VERY expensive to use. I did a lot of research on what would be best for our home. In a matter of a couple of days we had some very cool folks help us purchase a new Ductless Heat Pump. I got a great rebate from our local power company and it qualifies for a tax write off too. It was a little more expensive than I origianlly thought, so we dipped into savings for a little bit, but are still very thankful for heat without dust, fire danger and 86-90% efficiency. WOW! So I'm very excited.

We fired it up this morning. And already our house is toasty warm. Get this, it heats and cools our house for under $20 a month. Yeah, go figure! That is really amazing. It is really geeky too. It has a cylon heat tempature eye that roams the main room for hot or cold areas, and it adjusts accordingly.

wow!! Two to beam up Mr. Scott...

billybob476 · December 16, 2009, 01:02:43 PM

I test mine (actually need to get a new one for the main floor). We 2 attached to house power and 1 suplied by ADT which runs on batteries. The ADT one is hooked up to their call center so they can call 911 for us. Also if the house power goes out, that one still works. The other two i don't need to worry about except for testing (well aside from the one that went south, that's a bit pricier since it's a CO detector as well).

Glad you and the family are warm and safe once more Rick!

Bromptonboy · December 16, 2009, 01:13:49 PM

That is interesting. That smoke incident had to be a terrifying splash of cold water. $20 a month to heat a house is wonderful! We have gas forced hot air (with cooling for hot weather) and the bill can run $$$ a month in the very hot or very cold weather - and I think we are in for a cold winter... :(

billybob476 · December 16, 2009, 01:46:27 PM

92 dollars for our gas forced air last month. Of course last night I figured out that cold air was pouring into the house through an uncapped duct that used to serve as an exhaust for the old furnace. So now it should go down a bit!

Ah the joys of new (old) home ownership!

moyer777 · December 16, 2009, 01:48:40 PM

yeah, over time things can get drafty! Congrats on finding the source.

billybob476 · December 16, 2009, 01:49:42 PM

Well, I stuffed it with rags for now, I'll have to cap it for real one of these days. problem is its old and not of a standard size so I guess I'll need to fashion a cap somehow.

ChadH · December 16, 2009, 02:45:18 PM

Just glad to hear everyone is ok Mr. Moyer. :)
On the positive side that newer, more efficient heater will pay for itself in the long run.

moyer777 · December 16, 2009, 02:47:24 PM

Yeah! We were paying over 90 dollars a month for pellets!

Bromptonboy · December 16, 2009, 04:00:22 PM

Does the climate get very cold in your area?

Feathers · December 17, 2009, 11:38:11 AM

OK, that sounds like quite an annual saving over a long period.

Have you managed to ditch the smell of smoke from the house?

moyer777 · December 17, 2009, 11:44:49 AM

Yes, a great savings! Yeah, the smoke smell was easy to get rid of with a chemical that a friend brought over. It's a professional type of cleaning enzyme that goes after the smoke smell. We had to do the carpets, the walls and ceiling and the furniture with it, but it worked like a champ! No more smell at all! And the chemical itself smells great too!

Thanks for asking. Quite an ordeal. Now on to the wedding this weekend.

:)

Feathers · December 17, 2009, 02:40:34 PM

At least the wedding was...a little...more planned and you'll have a warm house to collapse in afterwards :)