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Optimizing the use of your heat pump

Great job on making your home more energy efficient! Here are a few tips to maximize your heat pump’s performance and service life, not to mention your savings!

In winter, keep it on

A heat pump will help reduce the use of a back-up heating system like baseboards or convection heaters. But below a certain temperature at which the heat pump can’t operate, the auxiliary system must provide all the heating for the home. Consult the user guide.

Tip: During the day, open the blinds and curtains in sun-exposed windows to let the warm sunshine in.

Set it and forget it

Maximize the efficiency of your heat pump by keeping it at a constant temperature. When you raise or lower the set temperature, the heat pump has to work harder to reach it, and that requires more energy. So, when it comes to the temperature in your home, set it and forget it!

Wall-mounted heat pump

Optimal settings

To prioritize the use of the heat pump and maximize your energy savings:

  • Set the heat pump to a comfortable temperature (e.g., 21°C).
  • Set the baseboard heaters to a lower temperature (e.g., 19°C).
  • Direct the vents toward open spaces so the heat flows into the other rooms.

Expected result

Ideally, maintain a difference of 2°C to 3°C between the two so that the heat pump provides the main heating and the baseboard heaters only turn on when necessary, like during cold snaps.

Central heat pump

Optimal settings

In the case of a central heat pump, the thermostat settings must allow for simultaneous operation of the heat pump and the electric auxiliary system.

Important limitation

Simultaneous operation is not possible if you have a fuel-powered forced-air heating system. Contact the company that installed your system to ask about the optimal temperature setting.

Expected result

The amount of heat that the heat pump provides to your home will be maximized, as will your savings!

Avoid the automatic mode

In automatic mode, the heat pump will heat or cool a room up to the set temperature—and that’s not always a good thing! Put the heat pump in heating mode to make sure the air-conditioning doesn’t start up on a mild and sunny winter’s day or when there’s a fire roaring in your wood stove. And to avoid heating your home on a cool summer night, opt for cooling mode.

Cool as needed

Before cooling your home, follow these fresh tips that consume little to no energy!

Tips:

  1. Close the curtains and blinds in the windows that get the most sun exposure.
  2. Choose fan mode instead of cooling mode.
  3. Direct the vents toward open spaces, not a wall.
  4. Turn on the ceiling fans to circulate the air.

Clean the filters

Clean filters will increase the efficiency of your heat pump. The start of a new seasons is the perfect time to clean your heat pump’s filters. For more maintenance tips, like how to clean the filters and coils, read the manufacturer’s user guide.

Protégez-vous also released a heat pump maintenance guide (in French Only).

Clear the area around your heat pump

In summer and winter alike, keep the area around your heat pump clear so air can circulate. Make sure there’s no vegetation or snow accumulation that could affect the outdoor fan.

Get a professional inspection every year

In its Heating and Cooling with a Heat Pump guide,, Natural Resources Canada recommends proper annual maintenance to ensure your heat pump operates efficiently and has a long service life. Without proper maintenance, a heat pump can consume up to 25% more electricity. Consult the manufacturer’s user guide for more information.

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