Four Tips to Improve the Efficiency of Your Residential Heat Pump

We are in the midst of autumn. Winter will soon knock at our door. If you do not have a heat pump, it is time to scour the internet and local bazaars to find what heat pumps are up for sale. If you already own an air-to-water heat pump, it is time to learn a few tips so that you can stay warm this winter; without blasting your utility bills through the roof.

• Reduce Load Through Improvements In Your Structure

Heat pump will have to work more, or consume more energy, if your house or office is not well insulated. Start with the structure. Make sure there are not heat sinks, places from where the warm air can leak out into the atmosphere. Insulation will reduce energy use.
 

• Do Not Let Snow Fall On Your Unit

Outdoor temperature affects the efficiency of your heat unit. It is a good idea to cover it to protect is from rain and snow. Also it is smart to mount your heat pump at least two feet above ground where snow cannot come into contact with the unit.

• Choose Right-size Pipes

Heat pumps make noise. You will need at least 15 feet of piping to make sure no noise travels from the motors into your bedroom. This holds true for both interior and exterior units. But do not go overboard because excessive piping can make your pump inefficient.

• Purchase High-efficiency Pumps

In colder climates, performance often takes the upper hand and efficiency is compromised. But if you live in a slightly warm region, where temperatures rarely get below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, it is smart to invest in high-efficiency heat pumps, such as Lennox’s XP 25 heat pump. It has an energy efficiency rating (SEER) of 23.5.

Keep yourself warm this winter.

Avoid indoor air problems with right air conditioning

Indoor air problems are subtle. They are not always detectable easily. But their ill-effects become apparent after a while. 

There are many factors that affect the quality of air inside a building. They include high traffic in the region, climate, neighborhood industry, and even faulty heating and air conditioning systems.

A study by the researchers from Cornell University has found that one in five occupants in America show symptoms caused by indoor air pollution. The symptoms are collectively known as the sick building syndrome. They include the following four health conditions:

• Cough, sneezing, and sinus congestion
• Fatigue, irregular breath, and headache
• Irritation on skin, in eyes, nose, and throat
• Nausea and dizziness

People are not equally sensitive. Therefore some tend to develop symptoms of sick building syndrome quite early while other occupants continue to live without showing any ill effects. Although only a healthcare professional can determine how susceptible an individual is to poor air quality, there are groups that are more prone than others. These groups are:

• People diagnosed with a respiratory disease
• People with a weak immune system
• Those who wear contact lenses
• Individuals with asthma or air related allergies

Do you have an issue?

Although professionals working for air conditioning and air heating companies are better prepared to advise you on whether you have excessive population inside your building, below is a checklist you can use to make a preliminarily determination yourself.

You may have the problem of bad air inside your building if:

• Symptoms of sick building disease are widespread among its occupants
• Symptoms go away when the occupants go away for long periods of time
• Symptoms appear out of the blue
• Individuals with high sensitivity to chemicals, or with a disease, are more prone to show symptoms
• Your doctor says so

The air conditioning of your home affects the air quality of your place enormously. If you think you have a problem, consult an air conditioning and heating company and get your cooling and heating systems fixed up.