An Edmonton homeowner hoped to eliminate around a $50 monthly gas connection fee by switching entirely to electric heating. But a discussion of the costs revealed a potential hurdle: Their 100-amp electrical service might not support the backup heat needed on the coldest days.
Here's what to know
On Reddit, the Canada-based homeowner said their gas furnace began to take over from their cold climate heat pump at around 23 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-5 degrees Celsius).
"If we can convert our natural gas powered tankless water heater to heat pump water heater, we could cut our natural gas line entirely," they said. "I'm wondering if the math might work out."
In this case, other Reddit users were wary of the plan.
One person who had hoped to take a similar path shared, "The math on my house said that 100 A service would not be enough to support resistive heat and all my normal household functions at the same time, so that blew out my plan to go full electric before getting to the economics."
For homeowners weighing cost-effective upgrades, Palmetto can help you explore HVAC options and reduce energy bills. Palmetto's Comfort Plan network can also connect you with vetted installers in your area so you can find the right energy-efficient HVAC system for your home.
More background
Upgrading heating and cooling is one of the best ways to save on utility bills and protect against rising energy prices, but the system should be tailored to household needs.
For one Reddit user, an average coefficient of performance of at least 2.3 was the threshold they needed to make a gas disconnection worthwhile.
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"How old is the house and what's the insulation factor?" another wondered.
For them, a 24,000-Btu heat pump was part of their plans for a fully electric, highly insulated 2,500-square-foot home.
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One commenter offered an alternative to relying on other households' calculations: "Never math what you could measure, as they say."
Where can I learn more?
Questions about backup heat and electrical capacity have come up for other homeowners considering electric heating, too.
• A Canadian homebuyer asked whether heat pumps could replace furnaces.
• A homeowner sought a 120V window heat pump after a sewer pipe derailed their panel upgrade.
• A Toronto homeowner said technicians kept recommending combi systems after their 1981 boiler started buzzing.
• A Nova Scotia homeowner's leaking propane heating unit left them without heat or hot water.
• Buyers seeking 120V heat pump water heaters hunted for a rare 12,000-BTU version.
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