Heat pumps are most commonly used in HVAC systems. A heat pump doesn’t produce heat itself, but it helps to move heat from one area to another. It transfers heat or cooling from the environment into your building. Heat pumps are most commonly used to heat up buildings or rooms. A properly maintained heat pump can work efficiently for a long time. This article mainly explains how to use a heat pump and how to increase heat pump efficiency.
What is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a mechanical unit that draws heat from one area and shifts it to another area. These pumps have been used for a long time all over the world.
In spite of the low temperature, the heat pump has the capability to absorb some heat from the air. However, as the temperature becomes lower than the freezing point, the operational efficiency of this pump decreases. Fortunately, careful use of a heat pump in winter can guarantee you an excellent performance.
A heat pump transfers by using a working media known as a refrigerant. This refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air, evaporates it, and then transfers this heat to the indoor air.
A heat pump has a compressor, evaporator, and compressor. The compressor uses to pump the refrigerant between the evaporator and condenser.
As the evaporator enters the evaporator, it evaporates and removes heat from the outdoor air. After this evaporation, the compressor compresses the refrigerant in a condenser, where it condenses up to high pressure. At this point, the heat stored at the beginning of the process is transferred into the desired area.
The heat pumps have less cost as compared to traditional electric heaters. If you maintain and repair your pump on time, it can work efficiently for a long time without consuming too high repair or maintenance costs.
Read Also: Working of Reverse Cycle Heat Pump?
How to use a Heat Pump in Winter?
The proper use of a heat pump in summer or winter increases the efficiency and service life of your pump. First of all, follow your heat pump manufacturer’s instruction manual to learn; “how to use a heat pump.” However, if your supplier manual doesn’t have instructions, follow the below given most efficient way to use a heat pump in winter:
1) Don’t cover the heat pump
Do not cover the heat pump. This will block airflow, reduce efficiency, and even lead to mold. The freeze mode assists in stopping the heat pump from freezing.
2) Install a smart thermostat
A smart thermostat is an important unit of a central heating system. By installing a smart thermostat, you can easily control your central heating system and save energy costs. This increases the efficiency of your heat pump and also increases its service life.
3) Don’t run your heat pump the Whole day and night
Don’t run a heat pump whole the day. It is a machine, and it needs a break to work efficiently. It works the same as a human body. Therefore, please turn it off for some hours during the day. This is the best answer to your question: “How to use a heat pump in winter.”
You must install a heat pump timer with your pump. Turn on the heat pump before sunrise in winter. Similarly, turn it on before going home at night.
4) Size and Position of the Heat Pump
Before knowing how to use a heat pump in winter, there are most major factors that you must consider when installing a heat pump in your home for the first time:
- In order to achieve optimal energy efficiency of the heat pump, firstly, you must measure the size of the area which you want to heat and then choose the best suitable pump according to your desired area. If your heat pump has a small heating capacity than your desired area, your pump will need to work for a long time to heat the room according to your desired temperature.
- The position of your heating system is important for both aesthetic and efficiency reasons. Therefore, you shouldn’t install your pump in a public place. This is often the reason to choose a high-wall heat pump.
5) Proper Cleaning of the Filters
The heat pumps use filters to suck air from the environment. The main purpose of the air filter is to clean the air and send this clean air to the pump. These filters must be cleaned properly for the efficient working of the heat pump.
With time, these filters become dirty because of air dust particles. If you use the same air filter for year-round heating and cooling, contact a heat pump technician for its proper repair. In such a situation, you must repair it every year.
On the contrary, if you use it only for the summer or winter season, then perform its maintenance or repair every two years. Clean the filter dust every three months to keep your heat pump’s filter clean.
6) Learn the Heat Pump modes
Depending on the different heat pump modes, you must take some time to find the best suitable heat pump mode for your home. The heat pumps basically have two modes:
- Auto mode
- Heating mode
Usually, avoid using the auto mode and select the heating mode heat pump. In automatic mode, as the room temperature changes, the pump starts to maintain an appropriate temperature in order to maintain equilibrium. Such types of heat pumps have very high costs and consume more energy than other mode heat pumps. Therefore, the heat pump in auto mode is less economical and efficient.
Depending on the heat pump model, you can also try a dry-mode heat pump to dehumidify a humid area. Dry air is very sensitive to heat, so consider using this mode if the room is humid, especially if you are cooking.
The dry-mode heat pumps also consume less energy than the auto-mode heat pumps.
7) Avoid heating many rooms simultaneously
Maximum heat pumps have the capability to heat up many rooms at the same time, but it is not best to heat several rooms simultaneously.
If you heat many rooms simultaneously, your heat pump will take more time to heat your rooms. In this way, you will need to wait for a long to get your desired temperature in the room.
Therefore, divide your building and focus on the major rooms where you want to relax. These rooms may be your bedrooms, guest room, and kitchen in the morning. You can turn off the bedroom at night and move the heat pump to the living room.
Set up the heat pump timer 40 minutes before getting a bed in the bedroom. As you go for bed rest at night, remove the heat pump from the living room or any other room that is not used at night and close the curtains and doors so that indoor air can’t go outside or outdoor air can’t enter the room.
How to use a Heat Pump in Summer?
Follow the below-given steps to use a heat pump for cooling in summer:
- Heat pump Inspection: The proper inspection of a heat pump is very important before using it. You must inspect your pump properly because if your heat pump has any problem, you will fix it on time before its operator. In this way, your pump will work properly during the whole season without any problem.
- Adjust your thermostat: Before using your heat pump in the cooling mode, you must do two main things. First of all, adjust the switch installed on the thermostat bottom from HEAT to COOL. As you turn the switch in this mode, the heat pump cycle will be reversed. Secondly, set the fan in automatic mode instead of on. This mode prevents the fan to run the whole night and day. The AUTO mode lowers energy use and utility bill cost.
- Close the door and vents: If you are cooling a single room, close the doors and vents of the desired room. This method keeps the cold air in the desired room. However, the temperature of other rooms will remain high.
- Clean Air Filters: The air filters play a big role in the heat pump performance. These filters clean the air and transfer this clean air to the heat pump. You must clean them every three months for the high efficiency of your heat pump.
- Heat Pump timer: If your heat pump has a timer in the bedroom, set up the heat pump timer for 40 minutes just before getting a bed in the bedroom. You can now sleep comfortably.
- Use a Dehumidifier: Use a dehumidifier to remove the air humidity. Moist air feels warm because it sweats you and keeps the air warm longer. Get a simple dehumidifier to reduce the humidity. It also stops dirty carpets, foul smells, mildew, and mold.
FAQ Section
Can a heat pump heat a whole house?
The heat pump has the capability to heat your whole house, but for this, your heat pump will need to work harder. This will reduce the performance and service life of your pump. Therefore, you should divide your home into portions and install your pump for specific rooms like the living room, restroom, and kitchen.
Can you use a heat pump just for cooling?
The mini-split heat pump may be employed anywhere that supplies hot air in winter and cool air in summer. These systems for cooling are most commonly used in special applications such as desert or tropical climates.
What are the disadvantages of a Heat Pump?
- High initial cost.
- Complex design.
- Complicated installation.
- Generate problems in winter.
- High repair and maintenance costs.
- Planning permissions are needed.
- Questionable Sustainability.
At which temperature a heat pump doesn't work efficiently?
A heat pump doesn’t work efficiently at around 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. At this range, the heat pump starts losing efficiency and doesn’t heat the home efficiently. At 25 degrees F, it becomes less efficient than the furnace.