Coolheat Blog

Here comes Summer…

Summer marks the warmest time of the year and the longest days. The most recent news coming out of the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) is that South Island residents should expect higher than average temperatures through the late summer months of February and March. 

Heat buildup inside the house can be combated in a number of ways and, as usual, a good combination of small measures can make a big difference. Some consumers have found that any monetary savings they’ve made during the winter months have been reduced by greater use in summer. There are however, a few simple methods to ensure sensible, cost effective use of the cooling technology. For those with a heat pump the most common problem is delivering the cool air efficiently. For the maximum result without wasting energy, it’s always best to ensure doors and windows are shut when your unit is on- it’s difficult for a system to work efficiently when it is in direct competition with a constant influx of hot air from outside. Use internal doors to isolate sections of your home that require cooling; there’s no point wasting energy on cooling the kitchen and bathroom areas if they can be blocked off with a window open, especially during the night.

Check to see how the house is being heated up- cooking can spread heat around the house, as running the oven in one room will spread heat throughout the house. Look only at using the stove top on the really hot nights and be sure to employ the spot ventilation on the oven hood to distribute at least some of the heated air outside. Better yet- get outside for your cooking. During summer, there’s not much better than a cold drink and a hot BBQ.

Before the temperatures get too unbearable in the warmer months of the year, there are a few things you need to do to make sure your heat pump is ready to change its role from heating to cooling. The air filter is the most important part of your cooling system. If it becomes clogged, then your system will have to work harder and longer to supply the same amount of cool air. Regular filter cleaning will ensure your unit is at its optimum performance. Washing the filters once a year and leaving them in the sun to dry will also help to keep your unit at maximum efficiency. Outdoor units also need to be checked regularly to ensure the rear intake vent is clear of leaves and debris. It is also good to ensure that plants have not grown over the front of the unit, preventing discharge air from freely exhausting.  Any restriction to airflow on either unit reduces cooling (and heating) performance, increases power consumption costs and forces the unit to work harder than it should.

Using your heat pump efficiently, combined with a few common sense measures, can drastically alter the climate of your home.

Tags: efficient, filter cleaning, heat, seasons, summer, warmer months