Heat pumps. Who's using them?

Hi. My home has a heat pump with an 80% efficiency gas furnace as auxiliary heat. We live in an 1800 sq ft 3 br home. Our utility bills this winter (PSEG) were 300 to 400 for each month, noticeably higher than last year. I believe my cutover temp, from heat pump to gas is 40 degrees. The pump is Daiken and furnace/blower is I believe Goodman. I’m hazy on details but can ask my husband for more. This system is 5 years old.

We set the thermostat to 71 degrees 24/7.

Here are my questions:
1. Is 300 to 400 reasonable in winter? I thought these things are supposed to be more efficient but the bill seems to grow every season.
2. Is it worth paying for an hvac company to inspect and service my unit?
3. Would a conventional gas furnace have been a better choice when we replaced our old unit 5 years ago? Both of us were won over by the hvac company’s claims that a pump is more efficient and comfortable.

Here is February’s bill:

IMG_8502.jpeg
 
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natlady10 said:
Hi. My home has a heat pump with an 80% efficiency gas furnace as auxiliary heat. We live in an 1800 sq ft 3 br home. Our utility bills this winter (PSEG) were 300 to 400 for each month, noticeably higher than last year. I believe my cutover temp, from heat pump to gas is 40 degrees. The pump is Daiken and furnace/blower is I believe Goodman. I’m hazy on details but can ask my husband for more. This system is 5 years old.

We set the thermostat to 71 degrees 24/7.

Here are my questions:
1. Is 300 to 400 reasonable in winter? I thought these things are supposed to be more efficient but the bill seems to grow every season.
2. Is it worth paying for an hvac company to inspect and service my unit?
3. Would a conventional gas furnace have been a better choice when we replaced our old unit 5 years ago? Both of us were won over by the hvac company’s claims that a pump is more efficient and comfortable.

Here is February’s bill:

View attachment 278371
Click to expand...

very reasonable -
As noted, prices are up 20-25%
It was significantly "colder" - not only cold, but windy - this year, so you would have been in "gas mode" quite a bit from mid-Dec through 2 weeks ago.

There is some savings to be had by lowering your thermostat, but it wouldn't be significant.

With the spike in electric prices, the heat pump calculation changes a bit.
We'll see what happens to NG. We may all be wearing more clothes inside.

I'll be setting the AC at 78 this summer.
 
natlady10 said:
Hi. My home has a heat pump with an 80% efficiency gas furnace as auxiliary heat. We live in an 1800 sq ft 3 br home. Our utility bills this winter (PSEG) were 300 to 400 for each month, noticeably higher than last year. I believe my cutover temp, from heat pump to gas is 40 degrees. The pump is Daiken and furnace/blower is I believe Goodman. I’m hazy on details but can ask my husband for more. This system is 5 years old.

We set the thermostat to 71 degrees 24/7.

Here are my questions:
1. Is 300 to 400 reasonable in winter? I thought these things are supposed to be more efficient but the bill seems to grow every season.
2. Is it worth paying for an hvac company to inspect and service my unit?
3. Would a conventional gas furnace have been a better choice when we replaced our old unit 5 years ago? Both of us were won over by the hvac company’s claims that a pump is more efficient and comfortable.

Here is February’s bill:

View attachment 278371
Click to expand...
Did you compare from last year and previous years? We have a two zone 97% efficient furnace and heat pump by Carrier. The heat pump is also set to trigger at above 40F. In the ten years I've had it, I'd estimate a 10-12% savings during the cold months, and with global warming it's been used more every year except this year's polar winter. I'd compare consumption and price increase before directing the blame on your heat pump.
 
Patrick said:
You'd be surprised.
The air is dry, turn on a fan.

Sometimes the wife wants it a little lower at night, but I turn it back after she falls asleep!

We are at 68 in the winter.
TV heats the LR to 70.... This is the justification for a large tv! Heats the room you are in
Click to expand...
I was just wondering.... I was thinking of having the house at 76 and bump the bedrooms down to 74, maybe 72, at night. But maybe I'll try 78 to start. I definitely need the extra cooling to stay asleep at night though, even with the fan. I might be skinnier this summer than the last few though, so maybe that'll help with the heat tolerance.
 
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