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HOME SERVICES WHAT WILL IT COST? JOB PICTURES HOMEOWNER TIPS ABOUT ME |
Any appliance that takes heat from one area and moves it to another is a heat pump. Most heat pump installations involve what is called a split system. The outdoor unit contains the compressor and a heat exchanger, called a coil. The indoor unit contains another coil, a fan that blows air through your duct system, grille, and electric heating elements. The outdoor and indoor units are connected by copper tubes that move a gas refrigerant (such as Freon) between the indoor and outdoor coils. This refrigerant has the ability to absorb heat from the air, even at very low (really cold) temperatures.
This hot gas travels through a copper tube to the indoor coil. The fan draws air through your return grille and pushes the air across the indoor coil. The hot gas transfers its heat to the air blown across the coil and into the duct system.
In the summer, your heat pump simply reverses the flow of refrigerant. Now the refrigerant absorbs heat from room air blown across the indoor coil. In this manner, heat and humidity are removed from the air, and cool, dry air is distributed throughout your home. (As the heat is removed, or absorbed, the air becomes cooler) The absorbed heat is carried by the refrigerant through the copper tube to the outdoor unit. Here the refrigerant goes through the compressor, then moves through the outdoor coil, which transfers the absorbed heat to the outdoor air.
1. Indoor coil extracts heat from home’s air.
Set Your Thermostat Wisely When the outdoor temperature drops below 32 degrees F, your heat pump may need assistance in heating your home. Electric heating elements will come on automatically to help heat your home during severe weather. Many thermostats have an indicator light that tells you when the electric back-up heat is on. It may be labelled emergency or auxiliary. Generally, you should see this light on only during very cold days. The light may also indicate a problem with your heat pump, such as a clogged air filter. Setting your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature is the best approach to conserving energy and saving money. Frequent to drastic changes to your thermostat setting may cause you to use more energy. Avoid increasing your thermostat setting by more than one degree at a time. A change in setting greater than one degree at one time will cause your electric back-up heat to come on. Whenever your electric back-up heat comes on unnecessarily, you will be wasting energy. When your heat pump is operating in the cooling mode, there is no back-up heat. You can adjust your thermostat setting up or down without worrying about additional systems coming on. For economical operation, however, you should aim for the highest comfortable temperature when selecting your thermostat setting. There are many types of thermostats. Please feel free to contact me to discuss the proper operation of your existing thermostat or the selection of a new, energy-saving thermostat.
The filter is the most important item to keep up with. This is also the most neglected part of the heat pump--and the cause of many high energy bills! Your filter collects dust particles that otherwise would clog your indoor coil. When your filter is not cleaned or changed periodically, you run the risk of substantially increasing energy consumption, reducing comfort, and causing equipment damage. You should clean or replace your filter every month. The filter is located in the indoor unit or the return air grille. If you can’t find your filter, give me a call.
Proper air flow is critical for efficient heat pump operation. Don’t close off more than 10 percent of the registers in your home. Don’t block a register’s air flow or try to deflect its direction. Proper air flow is also important for the outdoor unit. Keep grass, shrubbery, leaves, and dust away from the unit for unobstructed air flow.
Other than changing the filter, maintenance should be performed by a qualified technician. Give me a call right away if you experience:
1. Unusual sounds or noise.
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1. The number one tip I can give you is to keep your system air filter clean. Once every month, replace disposable filters, or vaccum or wash re-usable ones. WHY? Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your air handler run harder and eventually break down. Buy the best filter you can...you are also breathing the air it cleans!
HARD TO CHANGE OR CLEAN FILTERS? Call and ask about my monthly filter change/cleaning service.
2. Have your air handling system inspected once a year, especially if it is natural gas! An annual tune-up can save as much as 5% of yearly heating/cooling costs.
I GIVE A 10% DISCOUNT on yearly inspections to repeat customers. Call and ask for details.
3. If you have a forced-air furnace, Do NOT close heat registers in unused rooms to save money. Your heating system is designed to heat a certain amount of area and cannot tell when a register is closed. It will keep on working and heating just as it always has. Also, the colder air in the shut off rooms will seep into the rest of the house, ruing your efforts of insulating and weatherizing the house. Instead, see the next tip.
4. Purchase a programmable thermostat, and use it. If you work and are gone during the day, it will change temperature of your system when you leave, and turn it back in time for the home to be comfortable when you return. At night for instance, winter time temperature can be lower when you sleep. This type will save you money.
CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE FOR A GOOD PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT INSTALLED FOR YOUR SYSTEM.
5. Vaccum and clean registers and vents regularly. Be sure furniture or drapes do not block the air flow. Inexpensive plastic air deflectors can direct air under tables and chairs to help heat and cool.
6. If your home uses a boiler for a hot water heating system, do not cover radiators or baseboard hydronic heaters with covers or screens or blocking them with furniture. This type of heating uses convection air flow, and blocking that air costs you money, and reduces the effectiveness of the heating system completely. Consider putting a reflective panel behind radiators, using an aluminum foil panel.
7. If your home has electric baseboard heating, be SURE to keep furniture and draperies away from the heaters, and leave at least a three inch clearance under the heating unit.
8. Most people do this, but it is worth mentioning: Close your curtains and blinds at night to keep colder air out in the winter, and keep them open during the day to let the sun warm the rooms. And, during the hottest days in summer, close your curtains and drapes on the sunny side of your home to keep heat out, and the air conditioned air in. Insulated glass windows can do just so much, help them out.
9. Absolutely DO NOT USE space heaters, including electric, kerosene or propane models. Not only are they expensive to operate, they are also DANGEROUS, and we all hear tragic news stories about this every winter. If your system is not keeping you warm or cool enough, give me a call, and let's look at upgrading your system and keeping you and your family comfortable, and alive.
10. If your air handling system is 8-10 years old, you probably have an outdated system. With today's more efficient systems you may be able to SAVE BIG BUCKS, and be more comfortable at the same time with a new system. Call today for a free estimate of a new, efficient heating and cooling system for your home.