A Mitsubishi heat pump in Auckland will get plenty of use. There’s no question about that. However, a question of a different sort is less clear cut: is it more efficient to leave my heat pump running 24/7 using the “away from home” setting, or should I only turn it on when it’s cold inside and I need some heat in the place? At Fonko, as leaders in residential and commercial air conditioning, we bring quite a bit of knowledge to this debate. So, for what it’s worth, here’s what we have to say on the matter.
If you want a quick answer, then we think it’s a more efficient and cost-effective exercise to turn on your heat pump as required. But as you have probably guessed, a quick answer doesn’t take into account all of the variables, and one of the biggest is how well your home is insulated.
Do you live in a new or near-new house? Then it’s likely your home is air-tight with no gaps around the doors and windows, which means there are no draughts. In addition, you’ll probably have insulation that meets building code requirements, double glazing, thermal drapes, and a true heat exchanger ventilation system so you don’t need to open windows. If this is the case, and you live in a home that is that well insulated, it might be more efficient to leave the heat pump on all day every day. That’s because the heat won’t escape, and with your home at a constant temperature, your heat pump won’t need to work nearly as hard to keep you cosy and comfortable. The power usage will be at a minimum.
On the other hand, if you live in an older house, you might need to employ another heating strategy. Your home is undoubtedly beautiful and filled with character but if it’s draughty and uninsulated, you’re wasting energy by leaving your heat pump on 24/7. All you’ll be doing is moving heat into your house only for it to leak out the walls, windows and other gaps. When that occurs, the exterior heat pump unit will take it back out of the air and pump it back in again, in a never-ending cycle of inefficiency! That’s why we advise running the heat pump as you need it; use the timer to start the heat pump an hour or so before you normally would. When you no longer need the heat pump, turn it off
Investing in a Mitsubishi heat pump in Auckland is a smart idea, and using it correctly is just as smart. The team at Fonko will happily give you all the advice you need so contact us to make sure your heat pump operates efficiently, without wasting energy or money.