If your energy bills are skyrocketing and you can’t put your finger on the cause, it’s probably time to look at how well your heat pump is working. Heat pumps are incredibly efficient for heating and cooling homes in extreme climates. However, they also come with common mistakes that many homeowners in Arlington, TX make without knowing. These mistakes cost you money on energy bills and lead to costly AC repairs or even full replacements over time. This post will discuss some of the most common heat pump blunders so that you don’t have to go through what others have already gone through in learning from their pitfalls!
Failing to Change the Air Filter
An air filter is an important part of your heat pump system. When you don’t hire an AC repair technician to clean or replace the filter, the performance of your heat pump will be reduced. Also, when the filter is not working properly, the heat pump’s components are put under a lot of stress. This causes your heat pump to work longer than usual and puts a lot of wear and tear on your heat pump. To ensure the filter is working properly and not costing you excess money, consider calling an AC repair company at least once every six months to have the filters cleaned.
Leaving the Unit Turned On While Away
A heat pump is vital for your home’s comfort, but turning it on while you’re away can increase energy costs, especially if you’re gone for long. When you’re not at home, there’s no need to leave your HVAC on, as it will heat or cool your home the same way it does when you are around. This is energy wastage. The best thing to do is to set the thermostat to a higher or lower temperature to reduce the energy used while you’re away.
Besides, if you have a programmable thermostat, you can schedule your heat pump system to turn off or lower the temperature when you’re away and then turn on or raise the temperature to a comfortable level before you return. Therefore, when you are not at home, consider setting the HVAC unit to an energy-efficient level to save money on your energy bills. If you need a programmable thermostat in your home, call an AC repair technician in Arlington, TX for installation.
Allowing Vegetation to Grow Around the Outdoor Unit
You perfectly mow your lawn every weekend, but how often do you inspect the landscaping around your outdoor heat pump? The unit is mainly tucked out of sight, making it easy to forget. Your heat pump system requires a certain amount of ventilation space for smooth airflow. When there is debris, shrubs, and weeds around the unit, airflow is obstructed, forcing the condenser coil to struggle. The extra struggle on your unit will reflect in your energy bill.
When mowing your lawn, you should contact your AC repair company to clear the vegetation around the unit. You need an AC repair expert to do the job to avoid damaging the unit and other essential components around it.
Installing a Wrong-Sized Unit
When it comes to your home’s comfort, size matters a lot. A heat pump that is too small for your home will have to overwork to keep your home at the desired temperature, which can lead to higher energy bills. On the other hand, a unit too large for your home will use more energy than necessary to keep your home comfortable.
A well-sized heat pump can operate efficiently and won’t need to work long hours. To ensure that your heat pump is the right size for your home, it’s a good idea to have an AC repair professional perform a load calculation. This calculation considers factors such as the size of your home, the number of windows and doors, the type of insulation, and the local climate. The calculation will help determine the appropriate heat pump size for your home. In addition, a unit that is too large or too small may also have issues maintaining the correct humidity level in the home, resulting in dry, stuffy air. Therefore, it is crucial to have an AC repair company install your heat pump to ensure everything is done right.
Not Scheduling Regular Maintenance
Heat pumps require regular preventive maintenance to keep running smoothly and efficiently. This includes changing the air filter, cleaning condenser coils, checking the thermostat, and more. By skipping out on this annual service, you risk dirt and debris building up in the system, which can lead to costly repairs or even complete replacement. When you hire an AC repair professional in Arlington, TX to handle maintenance, you’ll get peace of mind knowing that your heat pump is running optimally and will save money in the long run.
Not Properly Insulating the Home
Heat pumps use outdoor air to heat or cool a space. To ensure that your system is running efficiently and you’re not getting charged too much for utilities, ensure the home is properly insulated. This will help keep cool air inside during hot summer and warm air during cold winter months, resulting in lower energy bills for you.
Need Help on How to Use Your Heat Pump Correctly? Contact Us Today
As homeowners, we all make mistakes with our HVAC units. The best thing to do is to rectify and not repeat the same mistakes. If you want to reduce cooling and heating costs in your home, remember to have a technician clean the filter, do maintenance, and install a programmable thermostat. The expenditures might look small, but they will help you save big by reducing the need for costly repairs and reducing energy bills. Contact us at Minuteman Heating & Air for professional services if you need more advice on using your heat pump properly. Our experts will answer any questions and fix any heat pump issue you are experiencing.
See our previous blog post here!