FAQ — Bella Vista

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Space Heating

The house has two largely independent heating systems: a propane fueled central heater and a heat pump.

Nest thermostat (on dining room wall) for Central Heating system. Automatically controlled.

(1) CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM

This system does not provide A/C. It is propane-fueled, i.e., environmentally not desirable, as it emits CO2 into the air, which is why we prefer using the heat pump). This system is regulated by a remotely controllable NEST Learning Thermostat. When turned on, the inside temperature is be regulated to keep a cozy 70 degrees between 7AM and 11PM and 64 degrees during the night hours. The house is subject to so much passive solar heating that the furnace rarely has to come on to augment heat to the 70-degree setting.

Should you find the house cold on arrival, it may be that the thermostat is still in the "Economy" mode (Green Leaf symbol).
To set it to the "Heat" mode call Klaus at 408-731-0794, OR simply use the Heat Pump, or try to turn it on yourself:
— (gently !!) press on center of nthermostat
— --> turn outer ring to bring the "Green Leaf" symbol up
— --> press on center
— --> turn outer ring to highlight "Heat"
— --> press on center to set.

To set the thermostat to the "Economy" mode when you depart:
— press on center
— --> turn outer ring to bring the "Heat" symbol (waves) up
— --> press on center
— --> turn outer ring to highlight "Green Leaf" symbol
— --> press on center to set

Please keep in mind that, should you use the fireplace, the thermostat "thinks" the entire house is warmer than it actual is, and the bedrooms will end up being cooler.

(2) HEAT PUMP

Remote for heat pump: Confirm that “Mode” is set, as desired, on “Heat” or “Cooling;” then set temperature with up and down buttons to desired temperature (recommend 73 for heating and 78 for cooling; then turn unit on with orange button.

The house has solar collectors that will provide plenty of clean electric energy for the entire annual demand, while not emitting any climate change-causing CO2. This is why we have installed the heat pump and recommend using it, rather than the “dirty” conventional propane-fired central heater. .

The “minisplit”-type heat pump is installed over the front door. Use the remote in the corner next to the coat hangers. We recommend setting it to 73 degrees for heating and 78 deg for A/C, using the up and down keys. Use the mode switch to set for “heat” or “cool”. Best do this BEFORE you turn on the unit with the orange button, to avoid switching-caused delays within the unit.

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During the unlikely event of a POWER OUTAGE and your strong desire to have space heat even though there is no power, press HERE to learn how you can connect the propane-powered central furnace to run on our back-up battery system. You will then not be able to use the heat pump for space heating.