Heat pumps
Heat pumps
Choosing a system, living with it through winter, and understanding what the controls are doing.
19 articles · Page 1 of 4
Nora's house
I accused the heat pump of being on fire
A little November vapour, a very cold cup of coffee, and the difference between normal defrost and ice that needs a service call.
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Nora's house
My thermostat did exactly what I told it. That was the problem.
I gave a new heat pump the old furnace's overnight schedule, then demanded a warm kitchen in ten minutes. We had to discuss my expectations.
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I nearly pressed Emergency because it sounded stronger
Automatic backup and a manually selected emergency mode are different. Learn what your own controller means before a cold night.
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At home
The hallway was warm. The bedroom door was shut
An indoor unit's location and the path air can take matter when rooms are separated by doors.
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At home
The new heat pump had to use the old air paths
A retrofit needs an airflow assessment. Replacing the outdoor equipment does not repair narrow, leaky or poorly balanced ducts.
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At home
Our neighbour's changeover temperature wasn't ours
Capacity, energy prices and control settings answer different questions. A neighbour's thermostat threshold is not a design calculation.
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