Heat Pump

[GE]

Greetings,

As a preface I should change my name to "Techno-Idiot"

I "just discovered" that the Heat Pump setting in our coach sends heat from the air conditioning ducts instead of the furnace. (I know some people shouldn't be allowed to own these things !!)

We are in a place where it is quite chilly. Question?? Can I do any damage by running the Heat Pumps for extended periods of time - like 24 hours. I am real low on propane and won't be able to get any until Monday.

Be gentle...

[GE]

Greetings,

As a preface I should change my name to "Techno-Idiot"

I "just discovered" that the Heat Pump setting in our coach sends heat from the air conditioning ducts instead of the furnace. (I know some people shouldn't be allowed to own these things !!)

We are in a place where it is quite chilly. Question?? Can I do any damage by running the Heat Pumps for extended periods of time - like 24 hours. I am real low on propane and won't be able to get any until Monday.

Be gentle...

[afrank1971]

I never thought about such extended periods of time, but just like the furnace, they only come on and off with the thermostat, and that's what they were designed to do, so I really can't foresee any problem. Maybe someone else with some knowledge will chime in, but with what little I know about it, I can't see it being a problem. Good luck.

[Lug_Nut]

Hi Greg, No problem. The heat pump is just like running your AC, except backwards. Set the temp you want and enjoy.
If the temperature gets down to 35 F. or so, the furnace will automatically take over. This will revert back to the heat pump after the temp is once again within heat pump efficiency of 35/40 F.

Peter

[MaverickBBD]

Your heat pump will cease to provide any heat around forty degrees. No damage running furnance at same time. If you have your owners manual you should read it. If my heat pump/ thermostat doesn't reach set point in five minutes (I think that is the time) the furnance will come on and run. If it doesn't reach set point in ten minutes the heat pump will turn off. It will try again after a specified time and will do the cycle twice more.

[justlou]

Heat Pumps loose their efficiency as the outside temperature goes down. Once it gets into the mid 30's your control center will probably switch to propane heat. If you don't have the automatic switch over and depending on the temperature, you may hear your Heat Pumps go into the defrost cycle.

[SacsTC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Question?? Can I do any damage by running the Heat Pumps for extended periods of time - like 24 hours. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
GE,
Welcome...No, you will not harm the heat pumps to set the temp and let them run. If it is approx 40* outside temp, they will probably go into defrost mode every now and then.. Since I do not know your coach, I will describe the way ours work.. When they go into "defrost" mode, they will stop working and will make gurgling noises. Don't worry about it. After they perform defrost, they will turn back on. Ours work fairly well down to about 35 outside. At 30 outside, they will shut off and go to furnace automatically.
We do supplement with small electric heaters when necessary...Quieter

[Lug_Nut]

SacsTC, That is the way Newmar's works also.

Peter

["007"]

Greg, you keep us busy and gain knowledge you will not need the "Techno-Idiot" in the future.
We have all gone thru the learning period.

[Norm Payne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MaverickBBD:
Your heat pump will cease to provide any heat around forty degrees. No damage running furnance at same time. If you have your owners manual you should read it. If my heat pump/ thermostat doesn't reach set point in five minutes (I think that is the time) the furnance will come on and run. If it doesn't reach set point in ten minutes the heat pump will turn off. It will try again after a specified time and will do the cycle twice more. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Newmar's don't work the same as Winnebagos. The heat pumps and furnace will not run at the same time. And Newmars do not have time delays with the heat pumps. All the other posts are correct.

[GaryKD]

Hi Greg,
Consider purchasing a couple of small electric heaters. We have two. One is placed in the cockpit area (where the largest heat loss is). The other is place in the bath area just before the rear bedroom. The heaters have a high/low setting for heat and a high/low setting for fan speed. On the high setting each heater requires 12 amps of A/C power. For us, they supplement the coach heating systems very nicely.

If you do this, consider understanding which leg of your 50 AMP service each outlet is wired to. When using both heaters, I ensure one heater is connected to each of the incoming power legs.