Avoid Freezing With These Heat Pump Winter Tips

Your heat pump is the only thing standing between you and a cold home. It keeps you warm throughout the winter without having to seek out a dozen alternatives to do so. Thankfully, many of the same care principles that apply to general HVAC care apply to heat pumps. Here are some winter tips for heat pump systems to keep them functioning optimally.

Take Care to Keep Your Outdoor Unit Free of Debris

Debris can quickly overwhelm your HVAC system. Normally, you’d have to worry about things like fallen branches or leaves. During the winter, however, you need to worry about these things as well as snow and ice. If you leave your heat pump vulnerable to these elements, you could end up with a broken system. Take care to find some way to shield your heat pump against falling snow and ice buildup. This will keep your heat pump running no matter the weather.

Replace Filters Regularly

Heat pumps have to work harder when their filters are full. Letting a filter get dirty and then not changing it is a common mistake most homeowners make. Set reminders to change your heat pump filters regularly, as you’ll be running your heat pump extensively to stay warm. If, for some reason, you aren’t running your heat pump as much as you anticipated, you can change your filter as needed.

Reduce Strain and High Expenses With the Right Settings

What do your thermostat settings currently look like? If you don’t use your heat pump properly, you may be putting unnecessary strain on your system and seeing much higher utility bills than you want during the winter months.

The first move to make is to switch your thermostat off “auto.” Your thermostat should only be set to heat during the winter. If you have your thermostat set to “auto,” it will end up cycling between heating and cooling, leading to inefficient heating and resulting in greater strain on your system.

The other move to make is to set your thermostat at a consistent temperature. If you constantly change temperatures, your heat pump will struggle to keep up. This can also lead to strain on the system and much higher utility bills. Keep things at a reasonable, consistent temperature for best results.

Inspect Ducts Regularly

Clogged ducts can be a common issue for heat pumps, but you may not know that they’re reducing heating efficacy if you don’t look at them. Inspect your pumps to make sure that no furniture is blocking them and that they’re not filled with dust and debris. If they are, reach out to a professional to clean your air ducts for you.

Keeping your heat pump functioning at its best during the winter is easy. As long as you keep your internals and externals clean and use the right settings on your thermostat, you won’t experience too many issues. If you do need support, reach out to us at ProFlo Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing in Temecula, CA, for professional heat pump services.