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A heat pump is a versatile and efficient appliance that can cool the house in the summer and heat the home in the winter. Those constructing a new home, or looking to upgrade their existing home heating and cooling systems should strongly consider using a heat pump given its many benefits. This blog post will discuss how a heat pump works in the summer, and what are the advantages of using it.  

There are two main types of heat pumps, the ground-source heat pump, and the air-source heat pump. The ground source generates heat from the ground outside the house, while the air source generates heat from the air. Either way, it eliminates the hot air inside the house during summer and transfers it outside, and then works in reverse during the winter.

How does a heat pump work?

Heat pumps work much like an air conditioners. It gets rid of the hot air inside the house by absorbing it and then processing back as cold air through the air handler. To be specific, it transfers the heat inside the home outdoors using a refrigerant. The refrigerant and the evaporator coils work together to get the heat outside the house through the condenser which blows the hot air outdoors.

The good thing about the heat pump is that it does not burn fuel to generate heat, or to cool a room. And while it consumes electricity to function, it is still more energy efficient compared to boilers and furnaces. For this reason, most newly constructed homes or renovated residential properties choose a heat pump for their home heating or cooling needs. 

How to make heat pumps more energy efficient?

Summer months are known to cause spikes in utility bills, especially when the summer months are saddled with heat waves. Homes with heat pumps though have generally more manageable cooling costs given the features of a heat pump.

Heat pumps can maintain cool air-conditioned comfort all through the summer months since it is capable of fully absorbing the heat and humidity inside the house. No matter how hot it gets due to heat waves and temperature spikes, heat pumps are very well capable of removing heat inside the house. And the good news does not stop there, heat pumps can still get even more efficient.

How to make the heat pump more energy efficient?

Heat pumps can be more energy efficient when used with utmost mindfulness. Below are some of the ways a heat pump can help you save more energy:

Minimize thermostat adjustments throughout the day.  Minimizing adjustments will help prevent your heat pump from cycling on and off. When it comes to using a heat pump, a more stable thermostat setting will pave the way for more efficient energy consumption. When the homeowner keeps on adjusting the settings throughout the day, the heat pump would cycle, again and again, prompting higher electricity consumption. It is best to choose the most comfortable setting and stick with that.

Choose the correct heat pump mode instead of choosing “auto.” Do not leave the decision to cool or heat the home to the heat pump as it will have the tendency to cycle on and off, consuming more electricity than needed. Choose the “cooling’ mode during the summer months, to signify that the heat pump needs to absorb indoor heat, and then choose the heating mode in the winter and other months when heating is needed. By doing this, the heat pump will exactly know what it needs to do and would not need to keep on cycling to meet the indoor temperature demand of the household. Removing the auto fan feature may also help make the heat pump more energy efficient.

Do not skip the annual professional tune-up. Yearly maintenance is essential in keeping the heat pump in its optimal condition. Some may also wonder if I should cover my air conditioner condenser after the summer when its not in use to prevent wear and tear. When a heat pump is not regularly maintained, dirt and debris could affect airflow, prompting higher energy use. Moreover, possible heating or cooling issues go undetected and unaddressed shortening its lifespan.

Heat pump maintenance in San Diego

How often should I service my air conditioner throughout the year? Keep your heat pump efficiently warming and cooling your home all year round by seeking routine tune-ups and maintenance. At Reliable Standard Heating and Air, we make it a point to keep our clients’ heat pumps working in their best condition. For any of your heat pump needs, be it installation, upgrade, maintenance, repair, or troubleshooting, get in touch with us at Reliable Standard Heating and Air today. 

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