Last month we celebrated the first day of fall, and this month, it is beginning to feel like it. Here in eastern North Carolina, we usually experience mild falls and winters, and only occasionally are we forced to deal with troublesome snow and ice. Of course, we often make up for it with hot summers, but that’s a post for another day.
For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, a heat pump can offer an energy-efficient alternative to a furnace and air conditioner. This common piece of HVAC equipment does a great job providing heat to homes in climates where the temperature generally stays above 40°F. Additionally, this system is great for spaces without ducts.
So, how does a heat pump work? To heat a home, a heat pump operates in the same manner as an air conditioner, but in reverse. Heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. In other words, when your home needs to be cooled, a heat pump will remove the heat and humidity and transfer it outdoors. The opposite is true when your home needs to heated.
Because heat pumps move heat, rather than generate heat, they cost less – as little as one quarter the cost of operating conventional heating and cooling appliances. Heat pumps are also more efficient because they use renewable energy in the form of low-temperature heat.
If you currently have a heat pump in your home, here are a few tips from the experts at Advance Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning:
- Set your thermostat at one temperature. Constant adjustments can cause higher utility bills, especially in the winter.
- If your unit gets covered with snow or ice, remove the snow or ice immediately in order to ensure the unit operates properly.
- Make sure that your outdoor unit does not sit underneath a leaking gutter. In the freezing weather, this water can form ice on the top of your unit.
- Check air filters monthly and replace as needed.
- Contact Advance Mechanical for regular maintenance check-ups.
If you have any questions about heat pumps, contact the pros at Advance Mechanical. We provide high quality heat pump repair, replacement and installation to Pitt and Beaufort counties. Give us a call today!