Heat Pump in Ceiling

[GraemeCook]

We are presently reviewing our heating options and are considering putting a ducted heat pump in the ceiling. We would appreciate any guidance - what to do and not to do - plus is their a standard reference text book on this topic?

Our house is 125 years old, 18 inch sandstone foundations, cavity brick exterior walls, double brick interior walls, Tas oak floors, lathe and plaster ceilings with cornices, ceiling roses, etc, and a fire place in every room. A lot of thermal mass. We have a slow combustion stove in the family room and the formal lounge room but the price of firewood has doubled in the last five years, and I am getting tired of carting wood and cleaning ashes.

We are not on town gas, and are looking at a heat pump - probably ducted as the interior part of split units do not really fit the decor of a period home. There is no access under the floor, we do not even know how high the crawl space is, and access there would either involve cutting through the sandstone foundations or putting a trapdoor in the floor.

There's heaps of space in the ceiling, but we have 11 foot ceilings which seems a long way to through warm air. But then, most commercial premises seem to have their heating ducts in the ceiling and it works.

What should we do??

Thanks in anticipation.

Graeme

[ozwinner]

Read this..

Al

[GraemeCook]

Thanks Ozwinner, although I was hoping someone would have a little more useful information than a google search and a pile of advertising hype.

Anyone else out there that may be able to provide further guidance.

Thanks

Graeme