Tips on How to Operate Your Heat Pump

Your heat pump does not operate like other heating systems. In the heating mode, the heat pump removes heat from outside and transfers it to the air inside. Inthe cooling mde, the heat pump removes heat from the inside air and discharges it to the outside ar. The heating and cooling modes are controlled automatically by the indor thermostat setting.

The coils in your heat pump operate at lower heat levels than fossil fuel (Gas or Propane) systems. Air at the supply registers usually has a temperature ranging from 85° to 110°F in the winter.

Even outside winter air contains some heat. As outside airtemperature drops, the unit runs more to collect and deliver the necessary heat inside your home. Hence, the heatpump moves less heat incold weather. The balance point of the heat pump occurs when at full capacity, it supplies all the heat your home requires. As outside temperature drops below the balance point, the supplemental heat (Electric resistene heat, gas or oil backup) is required to maintain your thermostat setting.

If your heat pump has supplementary electric resistance heaters located in the air distribution system (air handler or fan coil unit), just ask a Howell's technician how the heaters are controlled.

6 Very Easy Tips That Anyone Can Do

1. Dirt is the #1 cause of system failure. Getting the proper amount of airflow across the indoor and outdoor coils is very important. Check your return air filter(s) every month. If you are using a standard 1" disposable filter then listen up. First, if it is dirty, then change it immediately. But if it is clean, then you should throw it away and BUY A BETTER FILTER! Remember, dirt in a filter is a good thing. That means that the dirt is not in your system. If you filter is clean, then unless you live in a vacuum the dirt is slipping through the cheap filters.
2. Do not keep lamps near your thermostat. Light bulbs emit heat which is sensed by your thermostat, thus causing your thermostat to reach the set point temperature before the house has reached that temperature. Most digital, or programmable thermostats have a backlit display.
3. Do not close off more than one supply register at a time, closing off more will restrict airflow too much for efficient operation.
4. Keep return grilles free of blockage, such as pictures, sofas, or bookcases. Unrestricted airflow needs to flow back to the indoor unit.
5. If your indoor unit is in your attic or your crawl space, inspect your exposed ductwork. You will lose on average over 35% of your heat through little duct leaks. Most common areas to check - the run-outs or the flexible ducts coming off of the main duct trunk. If you are unsure what you are looking at, or suspect that you have leakage and are not sure how to fix it, give us a call or contact a Howells Technician.
6. Get on a routine maintenance schedule. Or,invest in your system's future with a maintenance contract, like our Energy Savings Plan Comfort Club Membership.

Your heating system is a very specialized and expensive appliance. These tips will help you, but in case of breakdown you should contact a qualified, NATE Certified company to perform the work. One last tip, yes you are getting 7 tips for the price of 6.

Bonus: If you do require a repair, and do not have a regular service company: when you call, ask if they provide FLAT RATE PRICING! This is your safety blanket. Flat rate pricing is a standardized price book on all HVAC repairs. The benefit to you is that if whether the repair takes 10 minutes or 5 hours, you are only paying one price. You are not paying the service tech by the hour to milk you. Good luck this winter.

FAQ: Suggested Temperature Settings for a Heat Pump

In the winter, we recommend a temperature setting that is comfortable for your household. Once your thermostat is set, the best policy is to leave it alone. Raising the thermostat as little as 2° F may cause the supplementary heat to come on, thereby increasing your energy usage.

In the summer, a setting of 78° F or higher is recommended for cooling. For each degree you set the temperature below 78° F, you will increase your cooling energy usage approximately three percent.

Raising the temperature when you are away from home during the day is recommended to save energy. If you will be away for several days, turn the system off during the cooling season. Frequent changing of the thermostat setting reduces the economical operation of the heat pump and tends to shorten the life of the compressor.

5 Quick “Go Green” Tips to Help You and Your Family This Winter

Stay Green During the Coldest Months of the Year

     Granted, your lawn is looking anything but lively at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be green – as in environmentally savvy. Global warming is caused primarily by a buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere. And since global warming is now a worldwide concern, it no longer “costs” to go green. In fact, it “pays” to go green, and in more ways than one.

Here are 5 quick tips for going green this season:

Weatherize your home.  It doesn’t take much to reduce your impact on the environment. Simply by caulking around doorways and windows and replacing old weather stripping can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1700 pounds per year.

Make sure your home has adequate insulation.  This one step can save 25% on your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of CO2 per year.

Replace old appliances with newer energy-efficient models.  Just in time for Christmas. Just by using an energy-efficient refrigerator, you can save 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Replacing your washing machine with a low-energy, low-water usage machine, will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 440 pounds per year. Converting your gas furnace to a dual fuel system, that pairs a gas furnace with an electric heat pump, will reduce flue emissions by as much as 50% per year.

Upgrade your heat pump and air conditioner to R-410a refrigerant.  The Clean Air Act of 1990 prohibits the production of HCFC-based systems by 2010, and bans Freonâ-22 production by 2020. R-410a refrigerant is environmentally friendly, and if your system ever gets a leak then it will not damage the ozone.

Maintain your HVAC system.  Changing your filter once a month or so maximizes your system’s performance, minimizes its energy usage, and ensures that the system keeps the inside of your home comfortable. And this one simple, but often over-looked step, saves 350 pounds of CO2 each year.

Remember, “green” is about what you can save – energy dollars, carbon dioxide, the environment, and ultimately, our planet. So do your part and go green this winter.

      Howell’s Heating& Air Conditioning has been improving the indoor environments of the Richmond area since 1969. 

With Cooler Weather Ahead, Your Furnace Needs a Little TLC. Find Out Why.

Most of our customers had concerns - like you - with one or more of these...

• Energy bills are too high.
• Indoor Air Quality is poor.
• Too many repair bills.
• Unreliable heating and cooling system (or service!)
• Just not comfortable enough!

Believe me, we know how tough finding a solution to those can be, but fortunately, that's what Howell's happily provides for thousands of Richmond customers.

First, your heating and cooling system is probably the most expensive equipment in your home. Plus, it is responsible for keeping the temperature constant. It also supplies your home "air exchanges" (like breaths for you and me) to keep the air fresh, moving, and healthy.

And lastly, your heating and cooling system is required to do all of these functions simultaneously. Winter and Summer. Night and day. Automatically. All year long.

So, here's what you can expect from a properly tuned heating and cooling system by one of our 'champion' Howell's service technicians:

Reduced Heating & Cooling Costs	Right out of the gate, a properly maintained heating and cooling system will save you money. Guaranteed! One maintenance visit will pay for itself in energy savings. Removing dirt and checking proper refrigerant charge will get your system back to manufacturer's specifications.
Improves Your Energy Efficiency	Your system "eats" energy every time it cuts on - roughly 6 times per hour in mid Winter. An under-performing system can be as high as 8-10 times. Ouch!
Adds Years to Equipment life	Dirt is the #1 cause of system failure. Dennis, one of our "champion" technicians for the last 25 years, has said that he has seen too many compressors die to the fact that the indoor coil was blocked up with dirt. If you want your system around for when you really need it, or are trying to "squeeze" and extra year or two out of it, then get rid of that dirt!
Keeping you and your loved ones Safe	I don't want to scare you, but an un-maintained fossil fuel burning furnace can be deadly. Each year we read about Carbon monoxide fatalities, due to unserviced, or poorly serviced, systems.
Improves Indoor Air Quality	Now your system just moves the air throughout the house, right? In part, your filter is responsible for removing the allergens or particulate out of the air stream. However, one important factor can affect Indoor Air Quality, and that is your duct system. Most duct systems we find have about 20-30% leakage. If your duct system is located in a damp, musty crawlspace, or in a hot, humid, and dusty attic, then your duct system is pulling air from those areas into your system, into your home, and bypassing your filter.
The Gift of Foresight	It is not by chance that we have given the name Energy Savings Plan (or "ESP") to our maintenance contract. We want to give you the gift of foresight. A small problem left undetected or uncorrected can domino into bigger, more costly problems down the road. Wouldn't you liketo know there will be a problem before it costs an arm and a leg.

Let us tune your system that can clean your air, save you on energy, and put comfort back in your personal or business environment. . .while it saves your system (and bank account!) from early replacement.
Find out how you can get a discount on your next tune-up and every other repair from us. Or to Schedule a Maintenance Visit Click Here.