Winter in Rockford is a strange phenomenon. While our area enjoys plenty of frigid days, we also have our share of mild days. It can be well below zero one day, and then 40 to 50 degrees the next. A heat pump can be a great tool to keep your home warm in the winter, even during Rockford’s cold winters.
How Do Heat Pumps Heat Homes?
Heat pumps extract heat energy from the air outside, bringing it into your home so that you can enjoy a warmer temperature in the winter months. Even when the air outside is cold, it still contains some heat energy that your heat pump can tap into, and using this naturally occurring energy can be more efficient than relying on energy from burning fuel.
What Do I Do When My Heat Pump Goes Below Freezing Temperatures?
Heat pumps can pull heat energy from cold air, but once the temperature drops below freezing, things can get a little tricky. Here’s what you need to know about heat pumps when it gets below freezing.
- The heat pump becomes much less efficient
- You will need a supplemental heat source for your heat pump
- The supplemental heat source is typically a gas heating system that will kick in when the temperatures drop below freezing
With a reliable supplemental heat source, you will still enjoy the efficiency of a heat pump when the temperatures allow without sacrificing your family’s comfort during cold spells.
Don’t Be Surprised if It Runs A Lot
Rockford has cold winters, and a heat pump is designed to move heat from one area to another. When there’s less heat outside, the heat pump will need to run almost continuously to keep your home comfortable. This is not a malfunction, so be prepared for it.
How Often Should I Adjust the Temperature of the Heat Pumps?
Unlike a furnace, a heat pump does not become more efficient if you drop the temperature or increase it during those times when you are not home so don’t toggle the temperature. Instead, use the timer to turn it off and on when you are at work, but leave the temperature alone. Any change in temperature will cause the heat pump to start pumping, which will raise your energy bills.
Be Careful With Emergency Heat Mode
Your heat pump will have an emergency heat mode. Be careful with using this mode. It is only designed for emergencies, which are times when the heat pump has broken and you need heat to keep your pipes from freezing. This is not an efficient way to heat your home, and if you switch to emergency heat mode on really cold days, you will be driving up your utility bills, defeating much of the purpose of having a heat pump in the first place.
Heating Services in Rockford, IL
Since 1957, Axberg has been bringing expert heating and cooling services to residents and business owners in Illinois. With years of experience and professional training, our technicians are ready for any heating problem you throw their way. When you need a professional furnace and heat pump service, count on Axberg.
Give us a call or contact us online to schedule heat pump installation today!
