Heat pump is just like an AC with extended capabilities. It can supply your house with cold air in summer and hot air in winter. The most fun part of this though, is that it doesn’t use any fuel other than electricity.

Heat pumps are different from boilers and furnaces, and they should be treated differently whether it’s general usage or heat pump repair. But many homeowners mistreat their heat pumps and this causes lots of issues in the long term.

Here are some of the most common ways not to use a heat pump.

Don’t Freak Out About the Temperature Settings

The working method and temperature setting of a heat pump is different from older systems which were used in our houses once. The heat pump’s temperature setting should first be set to a range that is standard in your locality. Then you can adjust the setting to your liking during the course of the next few days. So, you don’t need to worry about the ideal temperature setting right away.

Don’t Set the Old System in A Wrong Way

By “the wrong way”, we mean that you shouldn’t let the old system compete with your new heat pump by setting them to an equal temperature. As a rule of thumb, you should set your heating system 10 degrees below than what you are used to. This way, the old heating system will start acting like a backup heating system for your house rather than competing with the heat pump. However, if the weather gets too cold for some time, you can increase the temperature setting of the old heating system as well to let it contribute to the heating process.

Don’t Play with The Settings Too Often

With most of the older heating systems, it was usually okay if you changed the heat setting once or twice a day. Heat pump doesn’t work this way, it reaches a set temperature initially and reaches its peak efficiency over time. So, you don’t want to mess with it too often, or it might cause your energy bill to go up like crazy. But if you’re going out for over one day, then turning the heat pump off is the best option.

Don’t Underestimate Its Coverage

Always try to get the most out of your heat pump. Don’t let it sit down in a small coverage area when it can handle a lot more. You can experiment with your heat pump and see if it can handle a wider area of your house. The heat pump might surprise you with its efficiency and coverage area.

Don’t Let It Sit on Auto Mode

Many homeowners think that Auto mode is the best bet for them. They leave their heat pump on auto setting, and let it unnecessarily toggle between hot and cold settings. This would do nothing more than increasing your energy bill. Instead, you should manually set the unit on heat in the winter and on cold in the summer. You can use the “Auto Fan” feature though, as it is a nice feature in your heat pump.

Don’t Use the Slow Fan Settings

Since faster fans produce a lot of noise, homeowners usually prefer to set the fan on low speed setting. However, the fan and your heating unit both work at their best when the fan is put on higher settings. However, if you’re uncomfortable with higher fan noise, you can put it on as high as you can bear (its noise), and then set the settings to desired temperature.

Don’t Forget About Regular Maintenance

All types of heating systems, whether old or new, should be given periodic maintenance checks. Maintenance is usually very easy to do and involves some simple steps, but it can save you a lot of money in the long term by avoiding smaller errors from developing into larger issues.

The user manual that comes with new heat pumps can be used to know more about the maintenance needs of your specific model of the heat pump. Keep an eye on the outdoor unit and keep it away from snow, ice, and any other type of debris that might interfere with its main function. Always hire qualified HVAC companies McLean to repair the system if it has any issues.