Heat pumps are generally considered the most efficient way to heat and cool Winter Park, FL homes. However, how you use your heat pump and what you do to maintain it will directly impact its overall efficiency. Follow these seven tips to maximize your heat pump’s efficiency.
1. Use Caution Adjusting Your Temperature
Sometimes you want a little more heat in your home, especially on a rainy winter day. However, you want to be careful how much you try to adjust the temperature at any one time.
Rather than raising it several degrees all at once, try adjusting the temperature by one or two degrees at a time. Once you achieve the set temperature, adjust it another degree or two until you reach a comfortable temperature. Adjusting by more than this risks activating the backup heater, drastically reducing the system’s efficiency.
2. Get the Right Thermostat
Just like parts for a car, not all thermostats work with all heat pumps. Even with smart thermostats, some may work with multi-stage heat pumps, while others may not. It’s important that whatever thermostat you have works with all the functions of your heat pump to get the most efficiency.
Some homes have multiple thermostats if they have a dual-fuel system with both a heat pump and a gas furnace. In this case, installing a single thermostat that will switch without question from the heat pump to the furnace is something to consider.
3. Maintain Your Filter Properly
It’s imperative to keep your filter properly maintained, whether you have a central or ductless system. With a ductless system, you’ll have a washable filter that needs cleaning every two weeks.
Central systems have a disposable air filter that needs periodic changing. For the common 1- and 2-inch filters, this is usually every 30 to 90 days. Plan to check your filter monthly so you can change it before it clogs and causes strain-related heat pump repairs.
4. Leave It Set to the Same Temperature
The Department of Energy recommends adjusting your thermostat down when you leave the house or go to sleep. Additionally, when you’re running a furnace, this will help reduce the strain on your system and the energy it consumes.
However, with most heat pumps, you’ll want to set the temperature and forget it. If you adjust a heat pump thermostat like that of a furnace, you’ll end up using more energy trying to warm up your home.
5. Set for Comfort, Not for Temperature
How your home feels at a set temperature with a heat pump will vary from how it feels with a furnace. This has to do with how much heat the system circulates at a time. It also accounts for heat rising if you have a wall-mounted ductless system.
6. Ensure You Have Adequate Airflow
Every HVAC system depends on the ability to circulate air, and your heat pump is no different. It’s imperative to keep the supply from the system unobstructed. Providing six inches of clearance is usually adequate to allow the conditioned air to circulate from the vent or air handler.
Airflow through the outside unit is just as important. Allow at least two feet above and around the unit, including foliage and debris. Plan to hose off the outside unit in the fall or during warmer weather to rinse off dirt, dust, and pollen.
7. Have Your Heat Pump Professionally Maintained
Professional maintenance is important for the long-term efficiency of your system. Your service tech will thoroughly clean the indoor unit or units.
They’ll also tighten mounting hardware and electrical connections and test various components to ensure they’re working optimally. Anything that isn’t working right can erode the system’s efficiency and cause excessive strain and wear.
Get the best efficiency from your heat pump by ensuring that you’re using it properly and keeping it well-maintained. Call to schedule heat pump maintenance from one of our knowledgeable service techs at ACR Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.
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