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Oh, NO!! Honey, come quick! The little green light is on! Heat pump!

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Thermostat heat pump

We love our heat pump.  It works great most of the time.  It is so economical and we were promised low bills by the electric company when we reluctantly installed one in the new house years ago.

It proved to be a good promise.  They did say, however, that heat pumps are not good in extremely cold weather.  Look where the temp gage is today!!!  We hardly ever see that needle so close to a zero! 

almost zero

Frightful.  We run around asking how people can stand cold weather like this ALL the time. 

Another thing they pointed out is that a heat pump has the outside compressor part running all year long whereas the gas heat does not.  Well, it doesn't run when it goes to the emergency heat which is when the little green light comes on!  Little green light means Emergency Heat is on.....higher bills.

So now if we notice the little blue green light on the thermostat we know it is emergency heat.  It's too cold for the heat pump to be effective.  The bill is going to be high!

Brrrrrrrr.....It's cold in Arkansas.  And if any of you Northern people read this.....yes, we're wimps! 

Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

I grew up with a heat pump in NJ, Yup the light came on when it was cold (ours was red)... and the bills were higher, but when you combine the electric and gas bills it was not that much different than just one bigger electric bill.  I do have to say that it was not a warm heat... certainly didnt blow warm like gas heat does.

Jan 08, 2010 03:18 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Barbara, but fortunately that light won't stay green for very long in your area:)

Jan 08, 2010 03:34 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

If that unit was running here in CT the green light would have been on continuously since the end of November.

Jan 08, 2010 05:05 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Robert, that is a complaint that I hear about them.  During the cold you can't stand on a duct and get warm but you walk into the house from outside and it surely is comfortable. 

Charles, it really hardly ever comes on so we're happy with the heat pump.

James Q., I know.  I'm a real wimp. 

Jan 08, 2010 08:06 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Godmother,

I thought that it never got cold there in Kansas. The thought of you being cold is making me crazy.

Godson

 

Jan 08, 2010 12:36 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

It is Arkansas, little Nutsy godson.  That's an easy mistake to make.  I must admit that if I'd had the opportunity to buy a squirrel coat today, I might have weakened and done so just to stay warm.  The fur on your little noggin looks mighty warm!

Jan 08, 2010 01:12 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

P. S. Nutsy.  Even if I took your coat I'd never eat you.  That would be rude.

Jan 08, 2010 01:13 PM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

Ms. Barbara, I'd like to congratulate you for dumping Nutsy. Ms. Rita has no idea what is in store for her as his new godmoma but I'm sure you will fill her in.

Jan 09, 2010 08:43 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Well, Kate, I can see that you have new chores.  I didn't dump Nutsy yet.  I'm just ahving to lecture him a lot!  Beautiful new baby in your arms!!!

Jan 09, 2010 09:49 AM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

And considering a third website. I am a glutton for punishment.

Jan 09, 2010 11:07 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Godmother,

Thank you so much for not dumping me. That Mrs Kate is wringing her hands in glee that we have a minor issue here. It is not my fault that this floozy from Mexico wants my body and I assure you that I will reject her. I feel like I am in a deep freeze.

Godson

Jan 09, 2010 12:06 PM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

I saw this dead squirrel on NCIS and thought Nutsy bit the dust. I was excited but then came back yesterday to AR and found out it wasn't true.

Of course it could have been Nutroy or whatever his cousin's name is.

Jan 09, 2010 12:16 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Nutsy, I'd never drop you!!  Would I?

Kate, admit it.  Every time you see a squirrel, you think of our sweet Nutsy. 

Jan 09, 2010 02:19 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Godmother,

She wanted to see my cousin Wheatloaf dead. That is rude and it would be such a blow to the music industry.

Nutsy, Godson

Jan 09, 2010 03:37 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Nutsy, the music industry would suffer.  We need to be a bit kinder to Ms Kate, however, because she has lots of new duties in her life. 

Jan 10, 2010 12:46 AM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

Ms Barbara, being a peach of a person, you deserve better than an imposter.

Jan 10, 2010 01:36 AM