What You Should Know About Heat Pumps

Many homes are equipped with heat pumps as their heating and cooling system.  Heat pumps work well at most temperatures; however, in extreme temperatures they may not provide the comfort level you expect.  The following are some operating and maintenance tips to help you set realistic expectations about heat pumps and to maintain the system at peak energy efficiency and operating effectiveness.

Heat pumps absorb heat from one place and transfer it to another.  In air conditioning mode, they absorb heat from inside the home and transfer it outside.  In heating mode, they absorb heat from outside and transfer it inside.  This process works well when the outside temperature is between about 30˚ and 95˚ F.  It is more difficult for the system to maintain comfortable interior temperatures when the outside temperature is beyond this range and when the humidity is high.  Older systems and systems that are poorly maintained may have a narrower outside temperature range within which they can maintain comfortable interior temperatures. 

Heat pumps, and all heating and cooling systems, should be correctly sized for the home.  A common misconception about heat pumps is that a larger system is better.  In fact, too large is bad.  A heat pump that is too large may not run long enough in air conditioning mode to effectively remove humidity from the air.  This can create moisture control problems that can contribute to mold growth.  A heat pump is less energy efficient when it begins operating and does not reach full energy efficiency for several minutes.  A heat pump that runs for short periods costs more to run and may have a shorter service life.

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What You Should Know About Heat Pumps