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Boston area its cheaper to heat with nat gas and 95 % boiler. There is a heat pump for a.c. in part of the apartment. The heat pump is not in all rooms so the resident uses nat gas boiler with rads for winter.

The mini split is only used in the summer. Only once in 4 years was it used in the winter for when the boiler was being replaced.

Being that there is a heater in the outside unit that runs in the coldest days my question is if the breaker is shut off over the winter and we needed heat (due to boiler not working), how long would we need to have that outside heater on before turning on heat mode in mini split?

It seems like a waste of electrons to keep that outside pan heater on when the mini is not going to be used for heat.

you’re in MA—You did not mentionMassSave. If you’re taking on rebate money, they have all sorts of rules

With all that said, natural gas is the cheapest way to heat in Massachusetts.

In another thread it was determined that at around 30 degrees its cheaper to run a high efficiency gas boiler / 95 % than use the heat pump for heat.

Where did you read this?

Try this instead………Fuel Comparison Calculator for Home Heating | Coalpail.com

See exactly when its cheaper to run NG of Electric.

A good Heat Pump properly sized and installed should supply 90+% of your heating needs.

The MFGs usually say 24 hours. The crankcase heaters are pretty low wattage don't use that much.

MA. is a train wreck.

right now we are paying 33 cents per kilowatt. And its going up another 12 percent - probably putting us in the highest top three when comparing all states.

In another thread it was determined that at around 30 degrees its cheaper to run a high efficiency gas boiler / 95 % than use the heat pump for heat.

If a heat pump is not used over the winter it seems like a waste to have it turn on that outside heater. So if the power to the unit was shut off (breaker in panel) and the unit was needed for emergency heat (if the gas boiler broke), how long would that outside unit need power to warm things up? I would not want to damage the compressor for lack of oil.

Utility bills are soaring in this state..