Thought i would throw this out there (Im a lurker but felt compelled to add this, as this has been a learning lesson)
I've grown up and lived all over and had mostly Heat Pumps... House growing up was a Heil from 1993, house before was an 85 Trane..... Briefly as a baby we had an oil floor furnace.. Its then been 2 Coleman Heat Pumps a really Ghetto Carrier unit (in an apartment), A tempstar, and a Lennox.. Then living in the SW i had just a Gas Furnace and Window shakers... Here, I had a forced air electric furnace (ie: hair dryer on steriods) from lennox that was put in when the place was built (1978)
That SOB cost me $2000 in electric during the course of November, Decemeber and January of this year because something shorted out and one of the coils stayed live 24/7... The ductwork leaked and it was held together with alumnium tape.. Didn't even have a filter.. The thermostat was in the coldest part of the down stairs and it just sucked.. And it was SO LOUD.. Found out later they used parts of the joist runs as ducts.. SO not ok
PGE and the Oregon Energery Council where/are handing out rebates for Ductless Heatpumps and I bit the buillt. January 27th, 2015, I had a new Daikn Ductless Heat Pump Put in.. $4200 out lay and $2200 in rebates...
My house is a Tri level loft style town house, where 3/4 of it is open to everything else, just on different levels.. I only had one "head" unit installed and it so far has been awesome... I need to get the Skylight upstairs replaced and re insulated and then the ac will reach upstairs better...
If i had a head put in each room it would be even better, but that was just too much ($1800 per room).. I didn't go for a regular heatpump because the darn ductwork is shot and i figured "Ehhh, its the cheapest option, lets try"
The front bedroom gets a tad chillier than the others but a space heater takes the chill away... I run it 24/7 in fan mode and keep the bedroom windows cracked..... We set the heat at 65 and the a/c at 67 (yes we like it cold)... We do use a ductless window ac unit in the master to supplment it and I think in time I'll add a second head up stairs in the hall... The one downside is the doors gotta be open and my roommate hates that, but oh well..
Its quiet, simple and cheap and well built, so I am happy
My avg bill now is $120 or so during heavy useage
Steam heat was very seldom ever seen where I grew up, except in our Middle School and man did it suck butt.. One house had that Cable heat in the celing and it hardly worked.. Gas is ok, but I am afraid it blowing up.. Same with boilers.. If I had to it would be Gas forced air or my choice, a high efficency heat pump
