Installing a heat pump in your home can help you get better efficiency and long term reliability. If you want to get more out of your heat pump and avoid unnecessary wear and tear, follow along with these best practices:

Avoid Big Jumps in Temperature

If you decide you need to crank up the heat in the winter, don't make a major adjustment all at once. Suddenly increasing the temperature by a large degree can cause your backup furnace to fire, which is a waste of energy, and can lead to wear and tear requiring a HVAC repair. Adjust the temperature a few degrees, wait an hour, and then go back and turn it up another notch.

Clean or Replace the Air Filters on a Regular Basis

Air filters are extremely important if you want your heat pump to run efficiently. If you live in a home where people smoke or there is a lot of pet dandruff in the air, you will want to keep a close eye on these filters or schedule a HVAC contractor to come out and take a look a few times a year.

Get a Tune Up Every Fall

Your heat pump is naturally more efficient than a gas heater, but even it can become inefficient as the winter months wear on. Even if you end up changing those air filters yourself, you should still have a professional come out to your home at least once a year, preferably in the fall before you start using the heat pump again on a regular basis.

Programmable Thermostat Can Help

Heat pumps tend to run longer than gas furnaces, and even though they are more efficient, this can still add up over time. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, get one installed. This will allow you to set different temperatures throughout the day, for example, you can lower the temperature while you are at work all day. This will lower wear and tear on your heat pump at no inconvenience to you.

Heat pumps are a great way to lower your annual heating costs, but they still require some attention and care for best results. Change the air filter regularly, get your pump a regular tune up just like you would with a gas furnace and install a programmable thermostat for maximum efficiency. If you feel a sudden urge to increase the temperature in your home, take it slow and don't crank the dial all the way up at once.

To learn more, contact a company like Cape Fear Air Conditioning & Heating Co., Inc. if you have other questions.