Have you noticed that your heat pump doesn’t seem to be working as well as temperatures drop lower? It’s not your imagination. Heat pumps can struggle to keep your home warm when the temperatures are very cold outside. But before jumping to any conclusions about whether or not your heat pump can keep up with warming your home, we will check the system top to bottom to make sure there are no other contributing problems.
Just give us a call to schedule your heat pump services in Waxahachie, TX. We can fix anything that is wrong with your heat pump and talk to you about your options if the system is not keeping up with your heating needs. You can keep reading to learn more about why heat pumps struggle to produce heat sometimes and what you can do about it.
How Heat Pumps Work as Heaters
When it is in cooling mode, a heat pump works the same way that a central air conditioner does. But when a heat pump is set to heating mode, it works differently than any other type of heater on the market. The reversing valve engages and refrigerant begins moving in the opposite direction. The refrigerant moves outside, where it absorbs heat from the air and then channels that heat back into your home as a way of increasing the indoor air temperature.
Other types of heaters use heating elements and igniters to heat the air and blow it into your home. A heat pump is unique because instead of creating heat, it is transferring energy. While this is a highly efficient method of heating, there are some downsides that you need to consider.
Potential Downsides
When there is less heat in the air outside as temperatures drop, there is less heat to be absorbed by your heat pump and bring into your home. As a result, a heat pump may struggle to increase the indoor air temperature as much as you would like the colder it gets outside. No matter how hard your heat pump works, it’s simply won’t be able to produce the results you expect.
We live far enough south that this is not a major concern on most winter days. However, we do experience some drops in temperature that can affect heat pump operation. On these days, you may need an extra heating boost to feel as comfortable as you would like.
Options to Boost Heating
Aside from bundling up with blankets or using space heaters, you do have another option. We can install a small gas or propane furnace alongside your heat pump, also called a dual fuel system. The small furnace will work in tandem with your heat pump to offer additional heat for your home when it needs at the most.
This offers the best of both worlds. You get the energy efficiency of a heat pump along with the unmatched heating ability of a gas/propane furnace. Plus, you don’t have to do anything to your existing heat pump to add on the furnace.
Contact Republic Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. Revolutionizing the Customer Experience.