The Impact of Weather on Heat Pumps | Heating Season

Posted on: Nov 10, 2016

Heat pumps offer an excellent alternative to complete electrical or gas reliance during the colder months. While a heat pump does run off of electricity (typically), it has the ability to produce significantly more heat or cool air than the amount of energy it uses. As it draws heat and cool air from the earth, it can be impacted by the weather outside. This does make it necessary to perform regular heat pump maintenance. Our service staff recommends having your entire HVAC system inspected annually, including your heat pump. Heat pump maintenance helps maintain the quality of your appliance while extending its life. With that in mind, here are a few ways weather can impact your heat pump.

External Heat Pumps

External units run into the most problems. It is best to have a heat pump installed internally as it protects the unit from weather related damage. If your unit is outside, some freezing may occur. Most heat pumps do have a “defrost” mode which melts ice when installed outside. However, if it doesn’t, there may be a problem with the unit itself.

Extremely Cold Temperatures

Heat pumps work well when the temperature is moderate. Should a temperature drop to sub freezing it reduces the efficiency of the unit. Now, in Oklahoma this is not likely to happen, although on occasion it does. During an extremely cold spell, if you notice the heat pump is not working as well as normal and that your utility bills are increasing, there may not be anything wrong with the unit. As surface air temperatures drop below freezing, the ground below it becomes cooler, which deeper further into the earth. This means the warmer air pumped up is not as warm. It also increases the amount of energy a heat pump uses. Do, while the heat pump is an excellent tool to use during more moderate temperatures, you may want to shift to complete heating with your furnace during the days where temperatures are sub freezing.

Heat pumps offer a great opportunity for reducing the amount of energy your home uses. There are a few weather issues to watch out for, such as those mentioned. Whether you have questions on the installation of a new heat pump or you are in need of heat pump maintenance, our  professional team at Airco Service can address all of your HVAC needs. Give us a call today.