I’m in Manitoba and am kind of in the same situation. Even though our electricity is really cheap, it’s still more economically efficient to use natural gas. Coupled with just buying a new furnace and air conditioner, I don’t see myself getting one anytime soon. I’d still be happier if we subsidized electric heating/heat pumps (or stopped subsidizing fossil fuels so much) but recognize I’m in a place where I can afford that and many others simply can’t.
I have to pay about $50 USD per month just for the luxury of having heating in the northern US., even during the summer when I don’t need it.
R
The gas company can fucking blow me, I’m getting natural gas out of my house as quickly as I can afford it.
£100/year was the standing charge just to be connected to the gas network for me, had it removed as the heat pump was going in a few years ago.
Never having to worry about gas or carbon dioxide leaks is nice. Still got water leaks to worry about though, that caused some damage a while back. My standards are low enough that I would have fixed it with some duct tape and plywood but my partner doesn’t consider that an acceptable level of workmanship. But at least we got a really nice shower out of it that the insurance company mostly paid for.
That really depends on where you live. The option wasn’t even mentioned when my furnace was replaced a few years ago, and when I checked my AC model, it was not listed as a heat pump.
I’m in Manitoba and am kind of in the same situation. Even though our electricity is really cheap, it’s still more economically efficient to use natural gas. Coupled with just buying a new furnace and air conditioner, I don’t see myself getting one anytime soon. I’d still be happier if we subsidized electric heating/heat pumps (or stopped subsidizing fossil fuels so much) but recognize I’m in a place where I can afford that and many others simply can’t.
I have to pay about $50 USD per month just for the luxury of having heating in the northern US., even during the summer when I don’t need it. R The gas company can fucking blow me, I’m getting natural gas out of my house as quickly as I can afford it.
£100/year was the standing charge just to be connected to the gas network for me, had it removed as the heat pump was going in a few years ago.
Never having to worry about gas or carbon dioxide leaks is nice. Still got water leaks to worry about though, that caused some damage a while back. My standards are low enough that I would have fixed it with some duct tape and plywood but my partner doesn’t consider that an acceptable level of workmanship. But at least we got a really nice shower out of it that the insurance company mostly paid for.
If you have AC you already have a heat pump
If you have AC you have 98% of a bidirectional heat pump and likely no way to easily convert it to bidirectional.
Air Conditioning only heat pumps should be taxed extra to entice people to get a real heat pump.
Absolutely agree.
I thought the vast majority installed in the past few decades could do both?
That really depends on where you live. The option wasn’t even mentioned when my furnace was replaced a few years ago, and when I checked my AC model, it was not listed as a heat pump.