As this sunny, cold weather challenges us all to keep warm, it’s important to ensure your heat pump is optimized to perform its best. When temperatures drop below freezing, all heating systems have to work harder to keep your home warm. It is important to stay on top of some basics and some maintenance to ensure your heat pump is running as efficiently as possible during the cold months.
There have been a rash of concerns expressed on social media lately about heat pumps not keeping up. Note that there are many types and some are not suited for a cold winter and some are! Daikin is the most common brand in Juneau and we know of many ‘MXS’ Daikin model heat pumps that have been installed. These three letters in the model name of your outdoor heat pump compressor tell you that you do not have a cold climate unit and that it will most likely not keep up once temps drop below freezing. If you look at the name plate on your outdoor unit and see these letters in the model name, call your contractor and seek their advice.
Winter Heat Pump Tips
Below is a handful of tips and tricks for keeping your heat pump functioning properly all winter long:
- Make sure your external unit doesn’t get buried or confined by snow.
- Watch for ice under your external unit. Some is normal. Too much is seen when the ice fills the space between the ground and the base of the unit. Hot water can help to reduce the mini glacier that can form under the compressor.
- Watch for ice ON your external unit. Thick ice climbing up the sides of the unit is not normal and suggests time to call a contractor.
- Increase the indoor fan speed for greater heat distribution. This often works much better than trying to nudge the temperature setting higher.
- Check and clean the air filter on the interior unit…now.
- Watch your pipes and hydronic baseboards! Make sure you have a backup heating system ready to go or gently running as a heat supplement.
- Check your system balance and thermostat harmony.
- Check your thermostat setbacks. Very cold weather is not a good time to turn the heat down at night.
To read about each of these in more detail, check out our ‘Your Heat Pump and Winter’ page.
Surge Protection
It’s power surge season! Don’t let your heat pump compressor get taken out by winter weather. If you don’t yet have a whole home surge protector, we strongly suggest that you call an electrician and purchase one…yesterday! In Juneau, AELP will install these for free. If outside of Juneau, contact your local power utility for information.
Cover Your Compressor!
One of the best defenses against rain, snow, and roof avalanches is building a small roof to shelter your unit. This can be as simple as a piece of plywood with metal roofing attached to the side of your home.
Without protection, snow and water can melt and freeze onto the compressor, blocking airflow and reducing efficiency. In addition your equipment will last longest when kept dry, preventing rust and water intrusion that can damage internal components. For more detailed information about covering compressors, you can read our previous blog post on this topic here.
Maintenance
If your heat pump is not functioning properly in the winter (or during other times of the year), it may be time for a professional to service the unit. You can visit our ‘Maintenance, Repair, and Warranties’ page to find more information on who to call when your unit needs to be serviced.