Heat pumps are one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a home — but they’re also one of the most misunderstood systems I worked on in 45 years in the field. They behave differently than furnaces, they have quirks in cold weather, and most homeowners don’t know what to do when something goes wrong.
In this section you’ll find practical, field-tested articles covering how heat pumps work, how to troubleshoot common problems, when to call a technician, and how to get the most efficiency out of your system year-round. Everything here comes from real experience — not guesswork.
Yes you can install a heat pump or an AC unit under a deck if your local code enforcement allows it to be installed there. But it’s important to consider the air flow in and out of the unit. Top discharge heat pumps or air conditioners are the most common and have to have at…
No, a heat pump does not draw in outside air on it’s own. So how does a heat pump bring in outside air? Outside or fresh air is a function of the duct work not the heat pump. You can add a duct to the return air of the system that penetrates an outside wall….
A base pan heater can give a mini split a little edge to get through the coldest months of winter. Keeping the ice from building up inside the outdoor unit. This is an affiliate site. I suggest products that I find useful pertaining to this article. You are not required to buy. If you do,…
I’ll explain three simple ways to reset your air conditioner or heat pump system. But if these don’t work, you have a problem that will need to be solved by a good technician. Deep down in your gut, you probably know something is wrong, and that’s what you will have to do anyway. But it…
Yes, you can paint a ductless mini split to improve its aesthetic appeal and sort of hide its presence. That might cure one of my biggest complaints! The biggest complaint I hear about a mini split unit is how ugly they are, like an eyesore hanging on the wall. They definitely have no apparent beauty,…
My customers repeatedly ask me: “Why do I need to replace the line set for a new AC system?” The short answer is that the new system will last longer. Are you ready for the long answer? Older systems, primarily those that contained R-22 refrigerant, had mineral oil in the compressors that migrated through the…
Customers ask me if they can put their new mini splits in weird places. In the garage, on the roof, in a basement, or even under the deck. But not too many ask if they can put it in the attic. Actually, under a deck is quite feasible because they are side-discharged. I had a…
You can try to get a better filter for a mini split, but you should know that increasing the filter’s efficiency can reduce the mini split’s efficiency. In other words, increasing filter efficiency reduces airflow, which can damage the mini-split and void your warranty. Now, if that didn’t cause you to read more and dig…