Don’t worry if your air conditioning unit continues to run in the winter

If you are wondering why your air conditioning unit is still running when winter has drawn in, then the answer is very straightforward. Your air conditioning unit is also a heat pump. By that we mean that you have a system which can provide cool air in the warm summer months, but equally as useful, it can provide warm air in the cooler months, and often at a far lower price than traditional heating methods. Compared to baseboard heating or an electric furnace, your air conditioning heat pump could use up to 50% less electricity.

So maybe now you’re wondering what a heat pump is? In simple terms, unlike a heater that generates heat, a heat pump transfers heat, from inside your house to outside in the summer, and from outside to inside during the winter. Yes, believe it or not, there is sufficient heat energy outside even in winter to warm your house – remember, a heat pump isn’t just a two-way fan.

Now, while we’re on the subject of energy saving, to maximize this, you should have a specialist air conditioning engineer check and service your air conditioning unit twice a year, once at the beginning of the ‘cooling season’ and once at the beginning of the ‘heating season’. Even a low refrigerant level or a mis-calibrated thermostat can reduce your energy saving.

So the final question you may be asking is “How do I know I have a heat pump and not just a basic air conditioning unit?” Well one way is to tap the serial number into a search engine and explore the results, or alternatively you can just check on the outside section of the unit. If you see a brass cylinder (it is a different color to the copper pipes) similar to that in the image here, then you’ve got a heat pump.

Whether it’s to have your existing air conditioning serviced, to discuss having a new system installed, or for advice on how to run a heat pump most efficiently, why not call us here at Petrocelli Services and we’ll be glad to call round and see you.