[masraum]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I had a similar, possibly the same, system when I lived in Tyler. The very same thermostat and switch set up. Mine worked fine down to at least 40 degrees. My backup heat was electric. I can't remember if it turned on automatically or not. Seems like it did.

Cool, thx.

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I wouldn't sweat the hurting the heat pump too much. If the outdoor unit is original, it's probably on it's last legs anyway. In a worst case scenario (the pump fails) you'd just switch to emergency heat and bypass the heat pump. I've done this in the past. I don't think you'll get stranded heatwise.

Yes, "last legs," while we are mentally preparing for that, we'd rather not rush into it.

Originally Posted by legion

Those tanks are propane. Natural gas appliances can run on propane but require an adapter to restrict the flow as IIRC, propane is more energy-dense than natural gas (methane). Everyone who lives out in the country here has propane for heat.

You might want to check if the electric heating coils used for emergency heat need to be replaced. Ones that are 30 years old almost certainly need replacing. My understanding is that they don't degrade so much a break. You may have had 5 coils 30 years ago and 3 may have worn out and snapped, limiting how much emergency heat your system can produce.

Good info, thanks. I'll see if that's something that I can easily check (resistance/continuity through the coils). Propane seems like a good way to go other than having the ugly tank sitting around.

Originally Posted by flipper35

Our geothermal heat pump switches automatically if it can't keep up. At -20* it still runs the normal pump and the temp out the vents is 90*.

You shouldn't have to worry about switching it.

I'd love geothermal. It sounds like a really good way to go, but I've heard that they are unlikely to work well around here. I guess we get too hot. That seems questionable to me, but I've not ever been prepared to replace a system so I haven't really looked into it.