Tips For Running Your Heat Pump In The Fall

As autumn approaches, cooler weather is sure to follow which means it won’t be long until you need your heat pump to start heating instead of cooling. Heat pumps are particularly useful during this transition period and we’ve outlined some tips that will help you seamlessly and successfully transition from cool air to warm air.

What You Should Know About Transitioning Your Heat Pump From Summer to Fall

WE DON’T RECOMMEND RUNNING ON AUTO MODE

Simply set your heat pump mode to “heat” in the winter and “cool” in the summer. Because of the big swing in temperature each day (especially in Maine), AUTO mode can be unreliable, throwing heat on a warm night or cool on a sunny autumn day!

DON’T PANIC IF YOUR HEAT PUMP DOESN’T INSTANTLY CRANK OUT HEAT

This is what we call defrost mode. Your unit is working on heating up the outdoor coil so the unit can maintain a temperature efficiently. It can happen 2-3 times an hour on particularly cold or snowy days and is completely normal.

RESIDENTIAL MULTI-ZONE SYSTEMS HAVE TO OPERATE ON THE SAME MODE

Whether cooling, heating, drying, or fan only, your unit will only serve one function at a time. (If mom is chilly and wants the heat cranked in the family room, then dad can’t run cool air in the den!) If you try to run one system on a different mode, you may get a flashing code until all have been set in synch.

THE TEMPERATURE ON YOUR REMOTE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE ACCURATE

The temperature sensor for your heat pump is located on the top of your indoor unit and since heat rises, the sensor will sometimes register a temperature that’s a little higher than the rest of your room. The warmer air needs time to disperse throughout the room, so set the temperature a little higher for ultimate comfort. Unlike traditional heating oil, those few degrees won’t break the bank.

 

Contact Us With Any Additional Questions!