Switch from gas to electric forced air heating after solar?

[grywlfbg]

Just installed a 4.5 kW system (15 LG300N1K-Gw panels, P300 power optimizers, Solar Edge 3.8 kW inverter) in a small home in coastal San Diego and awaiting for permission to turn on. It's a somewhat small system but more than adequate for our home and lifestyle. We have a ~20 year old forced air gas central heating system nearing the end of its life. We're thinking about replacing it with an electric forced air central heating system so that we can take advantage of unused solar electric capacity. Anybody done anything similar? Thoughts on pro's vs. cons? Thanks-

With your mild climate an air-air heat pump will work well and cover both your heating and cooling needs (and re-use your existing duct work but I would have it checked for leaks and sealed while you're at it). Geothermal will be overkill. As Dan noted it's a good time to add some insulation, replace door thresholds/seals, etc. If SoCal homes are anything like NorCal homes they're like swiss cheese from an air leakage standpoint :P

[inetdog]

It is unlikely that you will get more heat per buck from a heat pump compared to piped natural gas. If you are using propane, then a heat pump will do much better in cost. Remember that your grid tie power from your panels is not actually free unless you have badly oversized your system compared to your current usage and are not getting any money back from POCO.

[DanKegel]

I'm in a similar boat. I sized my solar system large enough to handle adding an A/C and then some, so I am looking at replacing ~10 year old gas furnace and gas water heaters with heat pump-based units. (Resistance heating is right out; that's too inefficient.)

The GE geospring heat pump water heater seems fine, just have to be careful to pick an installer who has done them before, as they seem to be fragile (they can't be transported on their side?!).

I had an energy audit done, and it found huge leaks in the house's envelope and the ductwork. And of course it noticed there is NO INSULATION IN OUR ATTIC.

I'd like to get that all fixed before I replace the furnace, on the theory that it will make it easier to figure out what size heat pump is really needed. But sane people with normal houses would probably have it all done at the same time.

[Sol Jolla]

Just installed a 4.5 kW system (15 LG300N1K-Gw panels, P300 power optimizers, Solar Edge 3.8 kW inverter) in a small home in coastal San Diego and awaiting for permission to turn on. It's a somewhat small system but more than adequate for our home and lifestyle. We have a ~20 year old forced air gas central heating system nearing the end of its life. We're thinking about replacing it with an electric forced air central heating system so that we can take advantage of unused solar electric capacity. Anybody done anything similar? Thoughts on pro's vs. cons? Thanks-