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Heating & Air Conditioning

Help Calculating Which Heat to Use

9 years ago

We live in a tiny (720 s.f.) cottage consisting of three rooms. We have an older boiler which provides hot water and baseboard heat.

This summer we installed a Mitsubishi mini-split (MSZ-FE12NA) for air conditioning, but it has a heat component too. The installer suggested we should use it for heat since it is so efficient.

This year our electric rates went up 37%, on top of a 12% increase a few years ago. The first bill under the new rates arrived yesterday. It went up by $100.

Our home heating oil is locked in at $3.50.

We are trying to figure out what will be cheapest to run. Does anyone have a clue how to calculate this?

Comments (3)

dovetonsils
9 years ago
I fount this calculator online, I am sure there are others:

https://www.peco.com/Savings/ToolsandCalculators/Pages/HeatingComparison.aspx

I was playing with it without knowing your electric rates, but it seems like the heat pump always wins (vs. oil - natural gas wins overall). You can put your data into the calculator and see.

Here is a link that might be useful: https://www.peco.com/Savings/ToolsandCalculators/Pages/HeatingComparison.aspx

This post was edited by Dovetonsils on Wed, Nov 19, 14 at 12:41
tigerdunes
9 years ago
What is your electric rate?

Boiler size and efficiency?

What size is the mini split? Do you know the HSPF or COP efficiency?

This information would be required to give you some type of informed opinion.

IMO
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ionized_gw
9 years ago
Location/climate information would probably be useful as well, unless Tigerdunes is going to give a temp cut-off. Details on the boiler might help zero in as well.]

Do a web search for "fuel calculator doe cop hpsf". You will get a good hit.

This post was edited by ionized on Wed, Nov 19, 14 at 14:19

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