Howdy,
Just joined the sight and looking for viewpoints. Especially in conservation ($$ and fossil fuels).
I live in an older home, 1997, in NE Kansas. I have central heating and cooling. Propane for heat and air conditioner for cooling. The furnace is a RUUD 90 Plus and the AC is a RUUD 5 ton, model unknown. We have lived here 4 years. We have insulated appropriately and are in the process of replacing windows with higher efficiency. We believe we have done the right things in conservation areas, ducts sealed and insulated, etc. The energy bills have reflected our efforts.
The primary question is in the area of central air and cooling. Would we be better off in replacing our AC with a air source heat pump and just keeping the propane system on line as a necessary backup? Should we consider replacing the whole system? Just replace the AC? Perhaps wait for failure then replace, since these are old units?
My present reading suggests that a geothermal system is very overpriced with the pay back times questionable even with the tax incentives.
Please give me your input and let me know if I am asking the right questions.
geo88 in NE Kansas
Just joined the sight and looking for viewpoints. Especially in conservation ($$ and fossil fuels).
I live in an older home, 1997, in NE Kansas. I have central heating and cooling. Propane for heat and air conditioner for cooling. The furnace is a RUUD 90 Plus and the AC is a RUUD 5 ton, model unknown. We have lived here 4 years. We have insulated appropriately and are in the process of replacing windows with higher efficiency. We believe we have done the right things in conservation areas, ducts sealed and insulated, etc. The energy bills have reflected our efforts.
The primary question is in the area of central air and cooling. Would we be better off in replacing our AC with a air source heat pump and just keeping the propane system on line as a necessary backup? Should we consider replacing the whole system? Just replace the AC? Perhaps wait for failure then replace, since these are old units?
My present reading suggests that a geothermal system is very overpriced with the pay back times questionable even with the tax incentives.
Please give me your input and let me know if I am asking the right questions.
geo88 in NE Kansas