01/17/2024
The snow and frigid temps have brought up a lot of discussion in different groups about the HVAC systems on your home, primarily heat pump systems. I just wanted to put out some information that is based on facts and not hear say. Please keep negative comments to yourself.
Fact #1: Don't wait for 0 degree weather to find out if your heat pump's aux/emergency heat will work correctly. Most aux/emergency heaters on your system have a fusible link on them that will melt if the heater gets too hot due to lack of airflow. Ex. Not changing your filters regularly and not having your evaporator coil cleaned at least once a year (preferably twice a year).
We have received tons of calls over the past two days and this is the majority of the calls and none of these people have had routine maintenance.
If a reputable company is doing your routine maintenance, then they should be checking these safety limits during their visit. We replace a lot of them that have melted during a routine tune up in the fall and winter months. Always check your filters once a month and change them if they are dirty.
Fact #2: You will not find on any HVAC manufacturers website where they will tell you to turn your heat pump off and just turn on the emergency heat when it gets below a certain temperature outside to give your heat pump a "break", even at 0 degrees. Heat pumps have motors and compressors on them that are continuous duty motors meaning they are designed to run non stop if need be, and when it gets below 20 degrees your heat pump will run non stop and your thermostat will turn on the aux./emergency heat in the background in intermittent cycles to help with the heating demand. The only time you should turn it off completely is if the outside coils are frozen over/not frost.
Frost is OK and the heat pump will go through a defrost cycle every 30 to 120 minutes depending on what system you have and who set it up. If your heat pump is frozen over, turn it off and thaw the outdoor coils with warm water until the ice is gone and then by all means turn it back on. If it freezes up again, have it checked by an HVAC professional because it could be low on refrigerant charge or the defrost cycle is not working properly. Always check your filters once a month and change them if they are dirty.
Fact #3: All heats pumps in the U.S. have COP (Coefficient Of Performance) efficiency rating standard that they have to abide by and these standards are measured at 47 degrees and 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Most all heat pumps today have an efficiency rating of at least 320% efficient at 47 degrees and 225% efficient at 17 degrees. To my knowledge there is not a gas furnace made that is more than 80-98% efficient. Granted, a heat pump will not make real hot heat at 17 degrees, but for the amount of electricity you are using to make it work, it is still well over 200% efficient. The aux./emergency heat will use an average of 4 times the electricity that the heat pump will use. Always check your filters once a month and change them if they are dirty.
Fact #4: If your HVAC equipment is sized correctly, your house should not vary in temp by a large margin when it is real cold outside. If your heat pump cannot make enough heat to keep up with what you are losing, then you need to consider adding insulation to your home and sealing up cracks around your plumbing fixtures, doors, and windows. If you were to add up all of the gaps that your home possibly has, it would be like cutting a 6" hole in your wall and leaving it open year round.
Always check your filters once a month and change them if they are dirty.
Fact #5: Always have a backup plan for heat in case of an emergency. Our service vehicles are for the most part, very heavily loaded with parts and supplies and are rear wheel drive. They do not like ice and snow, and I cannot risk the lives of the men and women that work for me to run service calls in extreme weather conditions. We cannot always get to a home right away due to the road conditions. Side roads and hills are the worst.
Buy one or two space heaters or even a propane or kerosene heater for when the power goes out, and keep it on standby. Most of the time, the people who predict the weather usually give us several days notice when a weather event like this week is going to happen, so get prepared so that you will not be left in the cold. And always remember, check your filters once a month and change them if they are dirty.
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