Getting the Most from Your Heat Pump This Winter

Heat pumps are a popular standalone and hybrid heating component, offering efficient home heating, often at lower environmental and financial cost. However, like any appliance, there are many factors that determine the efficiency of your heat pump; furthermore, some heat pump maximization strategies are different from those you’d use when heating your home with a traditional furnace. Knowing how to get the most from your heat pump will maximize your HVAC savings, potentially repaying you many times over for the smart choice to install and utilize a heat pump in your Columbus home.

Heat Consistently

Many homeowners know that the best way to achieve energy savings using a traditional furnace is to dial down the heat at night or while the home is unoccupied, then raise the thermostat’s set temperature when you are active. However, this strategy is not ideal when heating your home via heat pump. Heat pumps are designed to provide even, consistent heat at a slower rate than a traditional furnace. When your set temperature is more than two to three degrees higher than the current temperature in your home, your heat pump will engage auxiliary heating options, such as electric heat strips, to pick up the slack. However, electric heat strips can be much more expensive to use than your heat pump, unexpectedly raising the cost of your heating bill. Rather than requiring your heat pump to engage this electric heating option, keep your thermostat set within two degrees of your desired temperature at all times. Even though your heat pump is working more consistently, you’ll still enjoy energy and financial savings over a natural gas, oil, or electric furnace for which you must adjust the temperature more frequently.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

A heat pump system is only as good as the thermostat that controls it. When you install a heat pump in your Columbus home, it will come with a thermostat designed to control it. It’s very important that your HVAC service expert installs the thermostat that came with your heat pump system—or a comparable one designed to control a heat pump—so you can enjoy the maximum benefit of this system. The right thermostat has settings to alert you when your heat pump is your main source of heat and when its auxiliary system has been activated, which can help you make changes to avoid using more expensive forms of heat. Additionally, the right type of thermostat will know how to reach your desired set temperature at the time you want it by bringing your heat pump online sooner, rather than waiting so that additional heating is needed when you want to warm your home. A thermostat designed to work with your heat pump will also allow you to specify the temperature at which you want your heat pump to engage its auxiliary heat, giving you more control over your home’s heating system and your energy savings. If you have a humidifier installed as part of your home comfort system, as well, make sure your thermostat allows for simultaneous control of both systems for ease of use and maximum efficiency.

If you’d like personalized advice and information about heat pumps and other HVAC options in Columbus, check us out on the web to learn about the products and services offered by our experienced technicians. We also invite you to periodically peruse our blog to discover how you can get the most from your home’s heating and cooling system this year and throughout the lifetime of your appliances.