Enhance Comfort and Savings Using Your Heat Pumps

Mainers have embraced heat pumps in record numbers, with over 100,000 already installed in homes and businesses across the state. These systems are the most efficient way to heat and cool a building, offering significant energy and cost savings throughout the year. As we begin to wrap up another winter, we’d like to share some key tips for optimizing your system.

Use your heat pumps all winter.

High-performance heat pumps are the most efficient heating system, even on the coldest winter day. If you have both heat pumps and a boiler or furnace, your heat pumps are the more energy-efficient choice.

Set it and forget it.

Heat pumps operate most efficiently when holding a steady temperature. Turning heat pumps down when you’re away or asleep may actually use more energy than leaving them on. The reason is that they have to work harder to come back to the desired temperature than they do to maintain it. It’s best to set them at a comfortable temperature and forget it. Adjusting the temperature for short periods of time, such as overnight, will not save money with heat pumps.

Set temperature for comfort.

Many heat pump indoor units are mounted high on the wall. Because heat rises and heat pumps measure temperature at the indoor units, you may find you need to set your heat pump at a higher temperature than with a traditional wall thermostat setting to feel comfortable. This may be different for ducted heat pumps, floor units, or heat pumps with wall-mounted thermostats.

Avoid “Auto” mode.

In “Auto” mode, heat pumps maintain a constant temperature by alternating between the “Cool” and “Heat” modes. To avoid accidentally air conditioning on a mid-winter sunny day or perhaps when a wood stove is running, use “Heat” mode, not “Auto.” Likewise, to avoid accidentally heating on a cool summer night, use “Cool,” “Dry,” or “Fan” mode, not “Auto.”

Optimize fan speed.

Start with the fan speed set to “auto.” If that doesn’t spread the heated or cooled air far enough, select the fixed speed that works best for you.

Optimize air flow direction.

It’s easy to re-direct airflow on a heat pump. To maximize reach, air should be directed toward the open space that is the farthest away from the indoor unit, and away from any obstructions. Air deflectors can be used for ducted heat pumps. You may need to experiment to see what’s most comfortable for you.

Clean your dust filters.

Heat pumps work best when dust filters are clean. Depending on filter type, you should vacuum, rinse or replace the dust filters whenever they become visibly dirty or when the indicator light comes on. The frequency of cleaning can range from weeks to months depending on use and dust volume. For details on how to take the filters out, consult your user manual.

Keep your outdoor units clear.

Keep shrubs away from outdoor units and remove leaves that may become stuck in them, being careful not to bend the fins. Clear snow drifts away from outdoor units but don’t worry about snow and ice accumulating on them. Heat pumps automatically defrost.

Have your heat pump professionally cleaned.

To ensure peak performance, follow manufacturers’ recommendations for professional cleaning in addition to regular dust filter cleaning.

Avoid Frozen Pipes.

Turning off a boiler or furnace in an insufficiently insulated basement can increase the risk of pipes freezing. This risk can be minimized with insulation, heat tape on at-risk pipes, or space heaters set to keep the temperature just above freezing.

By following these tips, you can maximize the benefits of your heat pump system. For more information on rebates and financing for heat pump installation, visit Efficiency Maine. To explore more user tips and resources, check out Heat Pump User Tips and consider using our Home Heating Costs Calculator to estimate your heating expenses.