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James River Air Conditioning Company
Heat pumps are our most popular offering when it comes to a new home comfort system. These systems use the difference between outdoor air temperatures and indoor air temperatures to cool and heat your home. By choosing an Energy Star rated system and taking steps to optimize the performance of your heating and cooling equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming, promoting, cleaner air, and enhancing the comfort of your home.
Discover the remarkable benefits of Energy Star Certified heat pumps. Though they can be more expensive to purchase upfront, your monthly utility costs should be lower, possibly making up the initial cost difference over time. When buying new heat pump equipment, proper sizing and installation are as important as the quality of the equipment. Even with top-of-the-line, high-efficiency equipment, if it is poorly installed or improperly sized, it will not operate efficiently. It’s important to consider your home in its entirety.
It's important to replace filters, clean, and lubricate the components of a heat pump on a regular basis.
Heat pumps, like central air conditioners, have an outdoor unit that contains a compressor, a coil, a fan, and other components. To function properly, this unit should be kept free of debris such as leaves and dirt. The unit should be level on its support pad.
Clean pine needles, leaves, and dirt out of updraft fans by removing the grille, which is held to the frame by a series of retaining screws. Make sure the power to the unit is off before tackling this type of cleaning. A vacuum clear hose can sometimes be inserted between the fan blades to remove debris from the sides and bottom of the unit.
At the beginning of each heating season, set a level across the top of the metal cabinet and check the level from side to side and from front to back. If the unit is now longer level on the pad, lift the pad back to level by prying it up with a pry bar. Build up the ground under it with stone or crushed rock. Also check the piping insulation for deterioration. If the insulation is faulty, replace it with new insulation. Available at heating supply stores. Installation instructions are usually provided by the manufacturer.
If a heat pump has been off for more than an hour because of a blown fuse, a tripped circuit breaker, or a utility power failure, the unit should not be operated for about six to eight hours, especially if the temperature is 50°F or lower.
The lubricant in the heat pump’s oil reservoir may be too cool to circulate properly and may cause damage to the valves of the unit. Instead, set the heat pump on emergency heat. This turns the heat pumps off and keeps it from running.
Leave the pump in this mode for about 6-8 hours, then switch the heat pump to its normal heating setting. If little or no heat is generated at this point, call James River Air’s professional heating and air technicians for repairs.
Need More Help from the Professionals?
James River Air Conditioning has you covered. Sign up for our Annual Bow-Tie Maintenance Plan to ensure your system runs efficiently year-round — when you need it most. Let our professional technicians handle the hard work so you can enjoy comfort and peace of mind.
