01/06/2018
Good morning Richmond Friends. With the temperatures hovering around 10 degrees for the last few days and likely for the next few days, We would like to give you some information that will save you some money. We have made quite a few service calls that turned out to be what we call nuisance calls. These call can be prevented by following a few simple easy to perform tasks.
1- Make sure your filters are clean. Dirty filters cause low air flow and cause strain on the fan motor. low air flow can reduce the amount of heat delivered to your living space and cause the fan to eventually burn out. A filter will cost about $4 to $10, depending on the number and quality of the filter.Make sure your thermostat fan setting is in the AUTO position. If it is in the ON position the fan will continue to run when the heat cycles off, (if it does cycle off). Heat pumps will run 100 percent of the time at these temperatures. Also check your breakers and make sure they are all on. Some heat pumps will have as many as three breakers in the main box and one at each of the inside and outside units.
2- For heat pumps with auxiliary (emergency) electric heat strips,, you need to remember a few things. Most heating systems and sizes are determined by calculations standardized by the energy codes. In our area, the size and capacity of the heat pumps are based on design temperatures of 17* outside with inside temperatures of 70*. This is a basis point so all systems are not going to perform the same. If your unit is operating within this range, then your system is probably operating properly. If you are maintaining better than 70* inside with the current temperature being 10 degrees, then you are in good shape. Just keep your filters clean. You could also see inside temperatures as low as 60* as the out side temperatures dip below the 17* mark.
3- Heat pumps do not put out "HOT" air. Most heat pumps will put out air above room temperatures around 100 -115 degrees. This means that when you put your hand over the heat outlet in your home, it will feel cool, because of the air movement. By comparison, oil heated or gas heated warm air furnaces will "feel" much warmer because the resulting heat is 120 to 160 degrees. Compare this to your body temperature of 98.6* (which is cooler on the skin).
4- Humidify the air in your home to maintain approximately 40 to 45 percent of humidity. This will make which ever heat you have, whether heat pump gas or oil heat, "feel" warmer. REAL FEEL temperatures. You can use portable humidifiers, or you can install one in your heating duct system.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us. We are happy to answer them. We are also happy to service your unit if you have no heat or loss of some heat, after all this is our business. We just hate to charge someone for the nuisance calls.
