What is thermal balance point?
A balance point is the approximate outdoor temperature at which the maximum heating capacity of the heat pump matches the heating requirements of the home. The lower the temperature outside drops, the greater the heating needs are of the home.
What is the balance point for a building?
The building balance point temperature is the outdoor air temperature when the heat gains of the building are equal to the heat losses.
What is the thermal balance point of a dual fuel heat pump?
The balance point for most homes is about 30 degrees. The balance point of energy efficient homes is lower than that of homes without proper insulation and other energy efficient features. Supplemental heat is only used to boost the system when the temperature is below the balance point.
What is auxiliary heat?
Auxiliary heat on your thermostat refers to your backup heating system within your heat pump, otherwise known as electric resistance heating. This is because when the temperature inside your home drops below the goal temperature you’ve set the thermostat to, your thermostat energizes auxiliary heat.
At what temperature is a heat pump most efficient?
around 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit
At what temperatures are heat pumps most effective? The heat pump is most effective on its own at temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, either a gas furnace or an air handler with supplemental electric heat will kick in to help heat your home.
What is low balance point?
If your system drops below the balance point, it needs supplemental heat. The balance point for most homes is about 30 degrees. The balance point of energy efficient homes is lower than that of homes without proper insulation and other energy efficient features.
Why do heat pumps require a high amount of servicing?
A heat pump that is serviced six months a year is more energy efficient than one that never gets a tune-up. The more efficient the heat pumps, the less electricity they consume, which helps the environment.
Is auxiliary heat bad?
Is AUX heat bad? The short answer is no. In fact, aux heat is a critical mechanism that keeps your heat pump properly running when the outdoor temperature drops. Since this type of unit doesn’t work the same as a furnace, it can get cold.
How long should auxiliary heat run?
Aux Heat Minimum On Time By default, this time is set to five minutes. This means, if your aux heat is called upon and canceled immediately, it will still run for five minutes before shutting down. If you change the threshold settings, you can configure the minimum on time and save on electricity or heating oil.