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.

Does Your Compressor Need a Cover?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is the furthest edge of your compressor well-covered by your building’s eaves?
• Is the unit protected from wind that could blow rain and snow onto it?
• Does your unit stay dry during rain or snow?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, your compressor would likely benefit from a cover!

Best Practices for Your Compressor Cover

• Allow for airflow – Place the cover high enough above the unit to ensure good airflow around all sides of the outdoor unit
• Provide adequate overhang – If possible, extend the cover at least 1 foot past the front of the compressor and 1 foot beyond each side

Protecting your heat pump’s outdoor unit is a simple investment that pays off in longer equipment life, reduced maintenance, better heating performance, not to mention good old peace of mind.

Your thermostats are the easiest ways to control comfort and savings. A few smart settings make a big difference in how efficiently your heating systems perform.

Get to Know Your Remote

Most heat pumps come with a handheld remote that controls the heat pump directly. A couple of settings here matter more than people expect.

• Use Heat Only mode, not Auto. Auto mode can cause the unit to switch into cooling mode unexpectedly wasting energy and causing your system to not perform as expected. During warm summer weather you can switch the unit into Cool Only mode, this will ensure you can use the unit for cooling and it won’t start heating in the middle of a warm day. 
• Leave the fan setting on Auto. This lets your heat pump adjust fan speed on its own for the most efficient operation. Manually forcing a high fan speed won’t heat your home faster. It just uses more electricity and can feel drafty.

Set It for Comfort

Don’t be surprised if your heat pump needs a higher number than your old thermostat to feel just as warm. Pay attention to your comfort, not the number.

Most heat pumps measure temperature at the indoor unit itself, not in an external thermostat room. Depending on where the unit is placed, this can make the number on the display run warmer or cooler than what you actually feel elsewhere in the room.

Smaller Setbacks in Winter

Turning the temperature way down at night or while you’re away can actually cost you more, not less, especially in cold weather.

• Large temperature swings force your heat pump to work harder to recover, which can trigger backup heat.
• In winter, consider removing setbacks all together as heat pumps take much longer to reheat a space then an oil based heating system. 
• During moderate weather setbacks can lead to modest savings, but for most homeowners leaving the remote at a constant setting will lead to best comfort and efficiency.

Keep Backup Heat as True Backup

If your home has a backup heat source, like electric baseboard or an oil boiler, its thermostat should be set well below your heat pump’s setting.

• Set backup heat 5-10°F lower than your heat pump thermostat.
• This way, backup heat only kicks in when your heat pump truly can’t keep up, such as during extreme cold.
• If backup heat is running often, that’s a sign your settings, or your system, may need a second look.

Dirty filters make your heat pump work harder, reduce heat output, and can shorten the life of your system. Cleaning them is quick and easy.

• Check the filters every few weeks, and clean them when you see dust buildup.
• Open the front panel of the indoor unit and slide the filters out. Most units have two. Check your owner’s manual for directions specific to your model.
• Rinse them with lukewarm water, vacuum off the dust, or use a damp rag to wipe off dust. 
• Let the filters dry completely before putting them back.
• Always turn the unit off before opening the panel. 

A few simple habits help your heat pump keep up when it gets cold.

Keep the Outdoor Unit Clear

Your outdoor unit needs good airflow to work well. Check it regularly and clear away any snow or ice that builds up around it.

• Keep snow from piling up against the sides, back, or top of the unit.
• Some ice buildup on the ground below the unit is normal, since the unit melts frost off itself during defrost cycles.
• If ice grows up into the unit and blocks the fan or coils and does not clear on its own, contact your heat pump installer for advice on how to safely thaw the ice or if there is an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. 

Skip the Setbacks

In cold weather, your heat pump works best when the temperature stays steady. Turn off any thermostat setbacks or schedules that lower the temperature at night or while you’re away. This gives your heat pump the time it needs to keep up during cold weather.

Keep the Fan on Auto

Leave the fan setting on Auto so your heat pump can adjust its speed for the most efficient operation.

If you live in a community with high electric rates, a little planning can help you get the most savings from your heat pump.

Make the Most of PCE

In communities that receive Power Cost Equalization (PCE), the first 750 kWh you use each month is billed at a lower, subsidized rate. Electricity above 750 kWh is billed at the full rate.

• Use your heat pump as your main heat source up to that 750 kWh limit each month.
• Once you pass it, compare the cost of running your heat pump to your other heat sources.

Use It More When It’s Warmer

Heat pumps are more efficient in milder weather, so they deliver the most heat per dollar of electricity when it’s warmer outside. In the coldest weather, they use more electricity to produce the same amount of heat.

Avoid Electric Resistance Heat

Electric space heaters and other electric resistance heaters use much more electricity than a heat pump to make the same amount of heat. Avoid using them whenever possible, especially if you are paying high electric rates.

Not Sure What’s Cheapest?

The lowest cost way to heat your home depends on your current fuel and electric prices. Reach out to us at help@akheatsmart.org and we can help you figure out the best approach for your home.