When you are looking to cut down on your heating costs, energy-efficient operation is vital. Learning how to make a heat pump more efficient in winter requires following a few steps. For further improved performance, trust our team to help with timely heat pump repair.
Before you need repairs, learn more about tips you can follow to improve a heat pump’s efficiency when it heats your home.
Try to Maintain a Consistent Home Temperature
When the weather turns cold, it can be tempting to increase the thermostat’s settings. By cranking up the heat well past the normal setting, you might provide cozy warmth to your home faster.
However, moving the thermostat setting up and down repeatedly affects system efficiency. Higher temperature settings burn quite a bit more energy than maintaining a consistent temperature.
To improve performance and move the heated air more efficiently, consider using high fan speed operation instead. Increasing the fan speed will use less energy than changing the thermostat settings.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
When trying to figure out how to make a heat pump more efficient in winter, a new thermostat may help.
Smart thermostat settings give you the option of automatically turning down the heat at night while you’re sleeping. The thermostat can also slowly raise the temperature when sunrise is approaching and you’re close to waking up. This will save money on your energy bills without making the heat pump less efficient.
With a smart thermostat, you can also adjust the settings through a smartphone app. When you aren’t at home, you can turn down the temperature a little bit to save money. You can then adjust the temperature back up just before you arrive to maintain comfort without affecting efficiency.
Avoid Using Emergency Heat Settings If Possible
The heat pump contains an emergency heat setting that helps during especially cold weather. If you have a cold snap in your area, your heat pump alone may struggle to reach the desired thermostat temperature. You can activate the emergency setting to provide extra power to the unit for more warmth.
The emergency mode activates a secondary heating element, almost like a space heater. However, this should only be used as a last resort for bumping up the heat inside your home.
Avoiding emergency heat mode will maintain better energy efficiency for the heat pump. Using the emergency mode causes significantly higher energy usage. Running the emergency setting regularly will counteract the energy efficiency that the heat pump naturally provides.
In other words, to maintain efficiency in the unit, only use the emergency setting when absolutely necessary. Use the regular heat pump setting the majority of the time.
Keep Debris Away From the Outdoor Unit
Outdoor unit clearance is important for learning how to make a heat pump more efficient in winter. Fallen leaves, tree branches, and tall weeds could block air circulation around the outdoor part of the heat pump. Without proper airflow, the heat pump may struggle to run efficiently, causing it to waste energy.
During winter, you should clear snow away from it. If you have icicles hanging from the eaves or gutters over the heat pump, clear them away carefully. You don’t want chunks of ice or dripping water falling on the heat pump.
You should not cover it in the wintertime to try to protect it. The cover could allow mold and mildew to grow underneath while blocking airflow.
Maintain a Regular Maintenance Schedule
Maintaining your heat pump is important to keeping it running properly. Our team can visit your home in autumn each year to inspect the system, but you can also perform a few maintenance tasks on your own.
Perform Some DIY Maintenance
Adding clean air filters is important when considering how to make a heat pump more efficient in winter. This is a common DIY task for homeowners.
You can also clear the space around the exterior unit from leaves and tree branches. Make sure the interior vents on the unit are free from debris, allowing maximum flow of warm air into the home. If you have a ductless system, don’t block air movement with furniture.
Call Our Professionals for Maintenance
The best option to maintain an efficient heat pump is to call our technicians for regular tuneups. Call us before the heating season begins to inspect the unit and ensure it’s ready for winter. We can also inspect the heat pump in spring before you need it to cool your home.
When we visit your home for a heat pump maintenance checkup, we perform tasks including:
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Running a diagnostic test
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Cleaning the unit
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Replacing any worn parts
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Measuring system performance
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Changing filters
Not only does our maintenance work keep your heat pump running efficiently, but it reduces the need for repairs. Regular maintenance should extend the longevity of the unit, too.
Perform Timely Repairs on Your Heat Pump
If you notice problems with the heat pump’s operation, call our experts for a repair appointment. Ignoring or putting off necessary repairs will cause poor operation, driving up your heating costs. Some of the reasons you should call us for repair to maintain an efficient heat pump in winter include:
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Odd noises from the unit
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Strange odors
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Airflow is poor
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Air doesn’t feel warm
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Short cycling issues
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Heat pump runs constantly
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Higher energy bills
Whether you need new parts or a simple system tuneup, our team will diagnose the issue and fix it. When our expert technicians perform timely repairs, your heat pump will be running with like-new efficiency again.
Call Cooper’s Plumbing & Air for Help with Heat Pump Operation
Learning how to make a heat pump more efficient in winter often requires a combination of techniques. You can do some DIY maintenance along with relying on our team of experts. We can help you spot signs of a bad heat pump that affect your energy efficiency.
At Cooper’s Plumbing & Air, we have the experience and skill to keep your heat pump running in top condition. To learn more about how we can help you, call us today at (866) 464-7132.