"Dick Keats" wrote in message
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"John Grabowski" wrote in message
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"Dick Keats" wrote in message
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Need advice re HVAC equipment for a 2156 sq. ft. retirement home which
will be built on 19 acres 25 minutes South of downtown Dallas, TX.
Natural gas not available. We will be getting a 500 gallon propane tank
for two Rinnai water heaters,propane gas cooktop and furnace.
Question is whether we should be looking into a heat pump or just
propane.
Many thanks in advance.
Dick


Of course every building and site are unique, but I would at least
explore the options for solar water heat and heat pumps. There may be
some significant utility rebates or tax credits for alternative energy
sources which will make them attractive. With the amount of acreage that
you have you might want to look into solar electric as well or perhaps
let someone else put solar electric there and you get free or low cost
electricity.
Hi John
I know how to get off the grid. I just can't afford it. I should mention
the house will be stick built with blown in foam insulation in exterior
walls and roof. Should be super tight.
I had two water source heat pumps on a big house I built in Irving, TX in
1980 for self, wife and kids, Extremely efficient plus 4K$ energy federal
tax credit back then. Then the divorce.
I've got two shallow wells on the property but can't find a well guy to
come out and tell me how much water I can pump per minute. Installers
don't want to do water source. They all want
to dig vertical wells and use plastic tubing. Asked about the horizontal
slinky configuration and they don't want to do it that way. Screw'em.
I'll already have a very tight house and the cost of
geothermal isn't warranted particularly on a limited budget.

With a high SEER unit and the foam I should be in good shape. BTW, we
also investigated wind power but find it to be noisy. Constant whine and
pitch increases as wind speed increases.
Also, no energy credits available in Ellis county. Not exactly
progressive.

You didn't answer my original question re heat pump or just propane. Any
thoughts?


I couldn't say for sure without knowing if it is cheaper to get btu's from
electricity or from propane in your part of the country. Maybe the propane
dealer can answer this.