• Maintenance
• Safety
• Troubleshooting

Winter

• Try to keep your thermostat at 68°F to save energy. Higher settings can increase operating costs. Remember, your heating costs may increase 3% for each degree above 68°F.
• Once your thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature, leave it there. It may be tempting to adjust your thermostat up or down throughout the day, but try to resist. These changes may increase operating costs, and increase your electric bill.
• A programmable thermostat made especially for heat pumps is a safer, more efficient way to accommodate your lifestyle, and it gives you flexibility. In winter, if your family is away from home during the day, your thermostat can be automatically programmed to maintain a lower temperature than you would need if you were at home. The same is true for summer nights, when the temperature drops, you may program your setting a few degrees higher than the suggested 78°F.
• Set the thermostat fan switch to automatic (Auto).
• Don't use the thermostat's emergency heat settings unless the heat pump isn't working. Emergency heat helps keep you comfortable until a service technician can make repairs; however, it costs twice as much to operate as normal operation.

Summer

• Set your thermostat at 78°F to stay cool and save energy. Lower settings will increase operating costs by nearly 5% for every degree below 78°F.

Keep It Maintained

• Clean or replace the air filter every one or two months when the heat pump is used for heating or cooling.
• Special air filters designed to increase indoor air quality may need cleaning more frequently. Be sure to check the manufacturer recommendations.
• Have your heat pump serviced annually or as the manufacturer recommends, which should also include cleaning the fan in the blower.
• Keep all room supply registers open. Avoid blocking return registers with furniture. Inadequate airflow through the heat pump may affect its performance.
• Tidy up around your heat pump. Keep the unit free of leaves, grass, shrubs, snow or other materials that can block airflow.
• Keep lamps and other heat producing appliances away from the thermostat.
• Read and follow the operating manual for your heat pump. The equipment manufacturer is a resource on how to operate the specific heat pump installed in your home.

Be Safe

• Don't shut your heat pump off at the circuit breaker. This could cause damage to your unit.
• Always follow the manufacturer's recommendation if a power outage occurs.
• If your heat pump fails to operate, you can manually turn on the emergency heat switch. This overrides the heat pump's operation, and activates the electric resistance heating strips.

Troubleshooting

During Heating Season

Steam Outside

Don't panic. This is normal. Water vapor forms during the defrost cycle on cold, humid days. Frost can build up, reducing air passing over the outdoor coil. The heat pump automatically goes into a defrost cycle, sending heat to the outdoor coil to melt the ice. As ice melts, the steam appears. This doesn't affect your equipment's efficiency.

Auxiliary heat light "ON"
Auxiliary heaters automatically provide heat. This usually happens when the outdoor temperature drops below 35°F. It may also occur if the thermostat is adjusted up more than 1.5°F. This causes auxiliary heaters to come on until the thermostat is satisfied.

• Little to no airflow from registers
• Replace or clean filter.
• Blower motor or belt failure.
• Possible air leak inside the supply or return system.
• Return air grill may be blocked.

Heated air feels cold
Depending on the outside temperature, most heat pump air ranges from 90°F to 105°F. Conventional furnaces deliver supply air at higher temperatures so it may feel warmer on your skin; however, a heat pump delivers more moderately heated air at higher velocities.

This provides better efficiency and more even heating overall, easily achieving the 68°F to 72°F comfort range. For maximum comfort, direct the supply air so that it sweeps the walls rather than directing the air into the center of a room.

Outside unit continuously running in very cold weather
All units run more frequently when the temperature is below 35°F, but be sure to check for other possibilities:

• Thermostat set too high.
• Low refrigerant level in unit.
• Thermostat needs adjustment.
• Thermostat exposed to cold drafts.
• Outside unit coil blocked by snow, ice or other objects.

During Cooling Season

Outside unit continuously running

• Low refrigerant level in unit.
• Thermostat set very low or extremely hot weather.
• Outside coil partially blocked.
• Thermostat located near heat source, such as lamps, appliances or television.
• Filters are dirty or too many registers are closed, limiting air movement.

Unable to cool house and reduce humidity

• Low refrigerant level in unit.
• Possible compressor malfunction. D A door or window is open.
• The duct system may have air leaks.

Sound of air pressure

• When your heat pump switches from heating to cooling or goes into defrost cycle, you may hear a sound similar to air brakes applied on a truck. This is normal. It's caused by equalization of refrigerant pressure.