After having a heat pump for a few years, you’ll hear all sorts of things about how it should be used, especially during the winter. However, some of these “tips” are just misconceptions. As long as the heat pump has been routinely maintained by a certified heating repair technician, you don’t have to worry about your energy consumption during the winter months.
Here are a couple facts and misconceptions you should to be aware of about heat pumps:
Heat pumps are less effective in the winter. The idea that heat pumps run inefficiently during the winter is a misconception. Of course, their rate of efficiency will always decline slightly as the temperature decreases, but they’re still known to be effective even when the temperature drops to single digits. With proper care and maintenance, your heat pump should continue to run efficiently.
You may also think that turning off your heat pump whenever it isn’t needed will help conserve energy, but this can actually contribute to future breakdowns. Letting it “rest” isn’t necessary, because not only will this lead to unnecessary heating repair costs, it will also increase your electricity bills over the winter months!
Defrost mode protects your heat pump. It’s normal for your heat pump to operate in defrost mode for a few minutes. This is crucial for its operation in the winter because when it gets below freezing and ice begins to form on your outdoor unit’s components, the heat pump will reverse its operation to defrost these components. It should only be in defrost mode for a short while, however, just until the ice thaws properly. If it lasts too long or kicks on too much, you’ll need to have your pump checked by a trusted technician.
If you’re looking for a trusted professional AC and furnace maintenance provider, M & M Heating & Air Conditioning Service Co. is your best choice for the job! Call us today at (209) 952-6580, or you can reach us online to schedule maintenance services.
