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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Furnace/ Heat Pump...what's the diff?
Post Info TOPIC: Furnace/ Heat Pump...what's the diff?
EggerMar


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Furnace/ Heat Pump...what's the diff?
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My 5th wheel has a fireplace in the living area. There are 2 AC units, one in the main living area and one in the bedroom.  Also has a separate thermostat in each of those areas as well.  The thermostat has 4 options to choose from

FAN - Have not used this yet, but I assume it just brings in air for circulation

COOL  - which runs the AC

FURNACE  - when I choose this option, heat comes out of the flooring vents.

HEAT PUMP - Have not used this  as I am not sure of its function

 

So...what exactly is the Heat Pump.... how does it work and under what circumstances would I use it.  How is it different from the furnace?  I know the fireplace runs on electricity and I believe the furnace runs on propane?

As always...thanks for helping this newbie out

 

Marilyn



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Lucky Mike


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heat pump above 38 degrees it reverses the flow of the a/c cycle and heats with the super heat off the condensor

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bjoyce


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Mike said it about heat pump, it is your air conditioner running in reverse, which costs more than one that only cools. Depending on the model of the heat pump/air conditioner and the thermostat, it might go below 38 degrees (ours goes into periodic de-ice cycles and runs down to 30 degrees, but uses more electricity) and/or the thermostat will automatically switch to furnace when it is too cold (ours does). A heat pump above 38 degrees is more efficient than an electric space heater since it is extracting and concentrating heat from the air, not creating heat. 

Fan setting runs only the fan, but you need it on low or high, not auto. On 30AMP you can only run one air conditioner (heat pump) in most cases, so many put the fan on the other air conditioner to move the air from the one running around. In really hot weather, over 90, put both fans on high, you will have better cooling.



-- Edited by bjoyce on Sunday 16th of March 2014 10:48:54 AM

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Alie and Jims Carrilite


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The Heat Pump cycle will also help control humidity. Our AC fan will run continuously when on heat pump mode.

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Terry and Jo


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When we ordered our Mobile Suites, we ordered the air conditioner units with heat pumps.  It basically gives us an extra option should we NOT want to run the furnaces and use LPG and not have to dig out the supplemental Lasko electric heaters that we bought.  However, below the minimum temp, the heat pumps really don't "generate" heat.

Terry



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