What You Should Know About Using Your Heat Pump in the Winter
Are you confused about how to use the heat pump your Indio, California, home in the winter? Heat pumps aren’t complicated, but they do work differently during the warm and cool seasons. Read on to learn how your heat pump works during the winter and how to get the most out of your system.
How Does a Heat Pump Work in the Winter?
In the winter, heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air and use it to warm your home. They use a relatively small amount of electricity to run, making them less expensive to operate than a natural gas furnace.
Heat Pumps Can Always Pull Heat Out of the Air
Heat pumps can always pull heat out of the air, even when it’s below zero outside. However, when the outside temperature reaches a certain point, usually around 20 degrees, heat pumps are unable to operate efficiently. At this point, a natural gas furnace becomes a more efficient and effective option. Hybrid heating systems help counter this issue by using a heat pump most of the time and a natural gas furnace when the temperature drops below a certain threshold.
Defrost Mode Is Important
You might get concerned when your heat pump switches to defrost mode, but it’s usually nothing to worry about. Ice can form on your heat pump’s outdoor components when the temperature outside drops below freezing. If the system’s coils get too cold, defrost mode cycles on and runs until the coils reach the correct temperature — this usually takes about 10 minutes.
Typically, defrost mode only signals a problem when it cycles on too often. If your system goes into defrost mode frequently, change the air filter and clean around the outside unit. If this doesn’t help, contact a technician to inspect the unit. An undersized system, a refrigerant leak, and a faulty thermostat are common issues that can cause defrost mode to cycle on too often.
If you have questions about your heat pump’s winter performance or want to have your heat pump serviced and inspected, give us a call at Palm Desert Air Conditioning and Heating Co. at 760-610-0297.
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