Heat Pump Settings to Maximize Efficiency and Home Comfort
Choose the right heat pump settings to maximize energy efficiency and home comfort.
If you’ve only recently upgraded your home’s heating and cooling system to an energy efficient heat pump, it’s important to understand that it operates differently than a boiler or traditional furnace. With our help, choosing the right heat pump settings is easy and will allow you to get the most out of your new equipment.
Choosing the right temperature
One key distinction between heat pumps and furnaces/boilers is that they measure ambient room temperature differently. But finding the right temperature isn’t a science. Simply set your heat pump to a comfortable temperature and adjust it over the next few days until you find the perfect sweet spot for your family’s home comfort.
Don’t fiddle with the heat pump settings every day
If you previously used a furnace or boiler as your home’s primary heating source, you may be used to lowering the temperature setting before you go to sleep or prior to going to work in the morning. It’s important that you DON’T do this with your new heat pump. Heat pumps achieve maximum operating efficiency by maintaining a set temperature. Find the temperature setting that works best for you and keep it there the entire day. This way your heat pump will conserve energy and you’ll have all-day home comfort.
Note: If you’re away from home for over 24 hours it’s totally okay to change your heat pump settings to a lower temperature!
Use your heat pump as much as you can
Homeowners are often surprised by how much space a heat pump can efficiently heat. The top benefit of heat pumps is their great energy efficiency which means that you can use it for as much heating as it can handle without worry. You can even test it out by leaving the interior doors in your home open to expand the heating space, and then turn the fan to a higher setting.
Adjust the settings of your old heating system
If you have your heat pump and furnace both set to the same temperature, the two systems will compete with each other wasting unnecessary energy and money. Set your old heating system to a few degrees below the temperature that your heat pump is set to. Doing so allows your old heating system to be the backup heat source for your heat pump. On a particularly cold day, your old heating system will kick on to support your heat pump in achieving the desired temperature, but it won’t boot up on milder days when it’s unnecessary to have two central heating sources. On frigid winter days, don’t be afraid to turn up the temperature on your old system if you could use some extra warmth.
Use a higher fan speed
Heat pumps work better when set to a higher fan speed. Feel free to experiment with the fan speed and set it to the highest setting that you are comfortable with. Using a low fan speed is not more efficient than a high fan speed!
Avoid using the “AUTO” setting for heating and cooling
When using the “AUTO” setting, your heat pump may unnecessarily switch between heating and cooling. To maximize efficiency using your heat pump settings you should set it to “COOL” during the summer and “HEAT” in the winter.
Perform regular maintenance on your heat pump
Regular maintenance is what will keep your heating and cooling system operating at peak efficiency for years to come! The most common reason that heating systems suffer a premature end-of-life is because homeowners neglect to perform regular maintenance checks.
See the manual that came with your heat pump to find information on cleaning and changing the cartridges. Another important maintenance task is ensuring that the outdoor compressor unit is not covered or surrounded by dirt, debris, ice, or snow. Contact a licensed and trained HVAC technician every one or two years to perform service on your heat pump system.
Looking to upgrade your home to a super efficient heat pump system? Look no further! Our team of certified and experienced HVAC professionals are more than prepared to help you find the right solution for your home comfort needs. We offer purchase, rental, and financing options for every budget and the top heat pump brands on the market. Our efficient and quick HVAC system replacement is done by our team of fully licensed and trained technicians. Want to learn more about the heating and cooling products that we have available?
Give us a call at 1 (855) 998-2998 or fill out our online request form and we will be glad to assist you with your request.
