Nailing It Down
By Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty
In 2020, most of us are spending a lot more time at home. In fact, as you may know, there’s been a significant home-improvement boom happening throughout the county.
With most people spending so much more time in their homes, it’s even becoming hard to find available contractors because so many people are restoring, remodeling, revitalizing and redecorating.
One thing that tops the list of making your nest truly cozy and comfortable is having consistent, clean and inexpensive heat.
We’re entering the coldest time of the year, and we thought we might have your attention to talk once again about a wonderful program to provide income-qualified Grays Harbor County residents with installed ductless heat pumps.
Since 2016, we here at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor have partnered with the Grays Harbor PUD’s Energy Services Department to offer free ductless heat pumps. Maybe you — or some folks you know — are eligible.
This fits so nicely into our mission of providing housing opportunities in Grays Harbor. And, with the help of local contractors, during these past five years we’ve installed almost 400 ductless heat pumps. Most of them were at no cost to the residents.
Not only do the residents receive a new heating source for their home, but they also typically save money on their monthly energy bill — sometimes a lot of money.
How a heat pump works
As we mentioned in last week’s column, heat pump technology basically recovers heat from the outside air and transfers it via a closed-loop refrigerant gas to an air handler inside your house. The air handler blows air through its radiator coil, which is heated by the gas, and delivers warm air into the house.
In a ducted system, the heated air is conveyed through your ducts and floor vents. Ductless heat pumps are just as they sound: They do not utilize any ductwork to convey the heated or cooled air, making them relatively simple and less expensive to install in most homes.
In the summer, heat pumps will do the reverse: They dry out the indoor air and pull the heat out of the air from inside the house, then blow it outside at the exterior heat pump unit. The returning air feels cool, providing you with a nice, air-conditioned space.
The difference in heat pump applications, besides cost, will be how much of a home will be heated or cooled by each type of unit. Ducted units can be more efficient in large homes with many rooms, but ductless units are great for smaller or more open houses. We suggest talking to your heating specialist. Our free ductless installations will heat/cool whatever the unit sensor can ‘see’ and more. Heating the main living areas are the focus and the best places to save on energy use.
In the summer, heat pumps will do the reverse — drying out the indoor air and pulling the heat out of the air from inside the house and blowing it off outside at the exterior heat pump unit. The returning air feels cool, providing you with a nice, air-conditioned space.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible to receive a ductless heat pump through this program, the following criteria must be met:
■ The household’s total income cannot exceed 200% of the current federal poverty guidelines. (More specifics on that below.)
■ Mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, and all single-family homes are eligible.
■ The home must not be in need of major structural or health- and safety-related repairs.
■ The primary source of heat in the home should be permanently installed electric heat. There must be a clear indication of an electric heating signature from previous usage.
■ The residents must be current Grays Harbor PUD customers.
■ The home must be at least a year old, occupied year-round.
■ Both homeowners and tenants (with owner approval) may apply.
Income levels
The low-income household eligibility is defined in the Federal Weatherization Assistance Program as up to 200% of the federal poverty income level. Here are the 2020 figures:
■ For a household of one, total annual income can be no more than $25,520.
■ For a household of two, the lid is $34,480.
■ For three, it’s $43,440.
■ For four, it’s $52,400.
■ For five, it’s $61,360.
■ For six, it’s $70,320.
■ For seven, it’s $79,280.
■ For eight, it’s $88,240.
Give us a call
If you think you may be eligible to receive a heat pump or have questions about the program, give us a call at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor at 360-533-7828, ext. 112, and leave a message for Pat. You can also email us at pbeaty@aberdeen-nhs.com, or message us through our website at www.nwghc.org.
Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is executive director. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing opportunities for all residents of Grays Harbor County. Due to Covid-19, our office is not currently open for a visit, but we will call you back.
