As one of the most cost-effective HVAC options on the market, your heat pump is proving to be a great investment. Taking the heat from the outside air and moving it into your home, heat pumps eliminate the need for costly natural gas systems to keep your home warm all winter long. But with the chill in the air during the coldest months of the year, how does your heat pump find heat to bring into your home to begin with? What needs to be done to keep it in the best working condition? Here are just a few things all homeowners should know about their heat pump in winter.

How It Works during Winter Months

You know all too well what’s happening outside this time of year – howling winds, frigid temperatures, and endless ice and snow. It seems downright impossible that a heat pump in winter would be able to find any outside heat to bring into your home at all.

That’s the amazing benefit of heat pumps – they will always be able to source heat out of the air, even in the depths of the winter season. Think of it this way. During the summer, your heat pump’s cooling mode utilizes refrigerant to collect the heat indoors and force it outside. During the winter, it does the opposite. The refrigerant acts again as a sponge, but this time it collects heat from the outside air and pushes it inside. Even in temperatures in the teens and 20s, there is still enough heat in the air for the air pump to do its job and sufficiently heat your home.

Components to Monitor

While heat pumps are known for their efficient operation year-round, the winter months present it with a unique set of challenges. For one, if ice forms on the outdoor components of your heat pump in winter, it will kick into defrost mode. This is exactly what it should do, but if you think the defrost mode is running for too long or starting up more frequently than normal, have it serviced by the experienced professionals at Custom Aire right away.

There are a few other things to keep in mind to allow your heat pump to function properly this winter. You should always keep its outdoor components clear of snow and other debris, if its airflow is blocked your heat pump will not operate efficiently. Also, monitor your heat pump’s filter closely to ensure you’re breathing the cleanest and highest-quality air possible.

Last but certainly not least, we recommend that you avoid using emergency heat during extremely cold days. Doing so can negatively affect your heat pump’s efficiency, as well as cause drastic increases to your energy bill.

Expert Service for Your Heat Pump

As always, if you encounter any problems with your heat pump in winter or any other time of the year, you can rely on Custom Aire to solve the issue and have your equipment functioning normally again. We’ve been serving Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas for over 20 years, and we understand how important it is to have your heat pump working properly all winter long. For more information, contact Custom Aire today.