"Why do I have to set my heat pump temperature higher than my desired room temperature?"
We hear this question all the time.
While it may seem like your ductless heat pump isn't working correctly, the answer is quite simple.
Generally speaking, two things can be the cause of a heat pump not producing the temperature you're looking for. A dirty heat pump or the location of your temperature sensor.
Dirty Heat Pump
Air passes over the coil inside your ductless heat pump head and then is circulated by your barrel fan. If there's a build-up of dirt on either, your heat pump won't work effectively. A dirty coil means the air can't be conditioned to your desired temperature and a dirty fan means the air won't circulate as expected.
To check whether dirt build-up is causing problems for you, lift the cover on the head of your unit (like a garage door), remove the filters and take a flashlight to look deep inside the unit.
If you see dust, mold, or dirt particles, they should not be there.
While you can gently clean the filter by vacuuming and rinsing them, a professionally trained technician needs to clean the inside of your heat pump.
At FreshFlo, our skilled technicians will dismantle your unit, apply a family-safe cleaner to clean and disinfect the coil and barrel fan, then pressure rinse the inside components. After everything is clean, they will apply a mold-inhibitor that prevents future growth of mould.
Temperature Sensor
As we all know from grade school science, heat rises. Most heat pump heads are installed a few inches from the ceiling. Even though it's just a foot or two above our heads, it's warmer up there than the ambient temperature of the room. With the temperature sensor located in the head of the heat pump, it's working correctly based on its sensor located close to the ceiling.
The unit measures the temperature of the return air coming back into the top of the unit. Because the sensor is in the unit head, it is common to have to set it to 24, 26, or even 28 degrees to maintain a room temp of 22 degrees.
Depending on the location and placement of the head unit, there's a good chance it will be sensing warmer air near the top of a room then you will feel at floor level.
A Ceiling Fan Can Help Save On Energy
It may seem counterintuitive to use a fan in the winter, but it's a great solution to more even heating.
In areas with high ceilings, it is a great idea to use a ceiling fan to help the heat pump keep that beautiful warm air down near the floor level where you want it.
Circulating the air will not only help with home comfort, but also with energy savings.
In severe cases where you have the heat pump set on its max setting, and the area still isn't warm enough, installing a remote temperature near the floor level will help.
You Might Consider A Wireless Thermostat
If you find that you are setting your heat pump at the max temperature often and your living space is still uncomfortable, you might want to consider installing a wireless thermostat.
Installing a sensor at a lower height will help the heat pump understand the 'real' temperature of the room and help regulate the temperature better.
Setting Minimum Temperature in Cottages and Garages
Do you have a heat pump in a space that doesn't need to be kept at room temperature? Like a cottage that only needs to be warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing or a garage that you just want to take the edge off the cold?
Most heat pumps have a minimum set point of 16 or 18 degrees celsius. For some situations, it would be unnecessary or too costly to maintain such a temperature.
A way around the minimum set point is by installing a wired thermostat.
Most manufacturers have these available, and most will allow the heat pump to work outside the "normal" factory pre-programmed range.
A wired thermostat will let you leave the space just above freezing while unoccupied if desired. For a cottage, you can even get smart thermometers that you can monitor from your phone to make sure the temperature stays above freezing.
Have any questions about the maintenance of your heat pump? Contact us today or leave a comment below!