When should I shut off my heat pump?

Author: Assunta Lowe  |  Last update: Monday, July 7, 2025

Heat pumps do not operate as efficiently when temperatures drop to between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for most systems. A heat pump works best when the temperature is above 40. Once outdoor temperatures drop to 40 degrees, heat pumps start losing efficiency, and they consume more energy to do their jobs.

At what temperature should you shut off your heat pump?

For this reason, heat pumps start to lose efficiency at around 40 degrees F and become less efficient than furnaces at around 25 degrees F. Heat pumps continue to be effective at cooling the indoors, even at high temperatures. In the South, it rarely gets below 25 degrees.

At what temperature should a heat pump switch to emergency heat?

This heating method works incredibly efficiently until the outdoor temperature reaches about 35 degrees. At this point, the heat pump has difficulty extracting enough heat from outside to keep up with the thermostat setting. This is when many people assume it's time for switching their heat pump to emergency heat.

Should I shut my heat pump off in extreme cold?

People do not need to turn their heat pumps off. Residents should make sure their supplemental home heating systems are on and operating. Set the thermostats to a degree or two lower than heat pumps.

At what temperature outside should I turn my heat off?

Our best recommendation is to shut your heating system off when the temperature outside stays at a consistent 50° Fahrenheit. While this might sound a little cold, it will actually take a couple of days until the temperature inside your home drops back down to that level.

Heat Pump Runs All The Time

What month should I turn my heat off?

We recommend turning off your heating system whenever the temperature consistently reaches 50° F outdoors. This doesn't mean you must shut off your heating system entirely. Instead, it simply means that you should be able to at least shut it off throughout the daytime hours to help save money on your energy bills.

How cold is too cold for no heat?

Losing your home's heating is considered an emergency when it's 40 degrees or colder outside.

How cold is too cold for a heat pump?

Most standard heat pumps will function at 100% efficiency until the outside temperature reaches about 40° F. However, when the temperature dips below this, most heat pumps are not able to maintain efficiency. They become much less effective at temperatures between 20° F to 30° F.

Is it OK to turn off heat pump in summer?

And turning off your heat pump is actually really good for the system so it can take a break. That doesn't mean you have to turn the unit off when it's the hottest outside. Instead, you can turn off the system for a period of time at night while your family is asleep.

What is the best way to run a heat pump in winter?

7 Tips for Maximizing Heat Pump Performance in the Winter
  1. Stop cranking up the temperature. ...
  2. Don't rely on emergency heat. ...
  3. Keep your filter clean. ...
  4. Keep leaves and debris clear of your outdoor unit. ...
  5. Do NOT cover your system. ...
  6. Don't worry about the defrost mode. ...
  7. Follow a regular maintenance schedule.

At what temperature should you switch from heat pump to furnace?

With a typical operation of a hybrid heating system, the heat pump will operate with ambient temperatures above 32 degrees. When temperatures are below 32 degrees, the gas furnace will operate.

Is it okay for a heat pump to run all night?

Yes – sleeping with your heat pump on at night means you can keep your room temperature the same while the temperature drops outside.

What is the emergency shut off for a heat pump?

Heat Pump - The emergency switch for a heat pump is typically a red switch located near the outdoor unit. It may be on the unit itself or on a nearby wall.

At what temperature should I switch my heat pump to emergency heat?

However, what happens when it is too cold outside for the air to be pulled in and heated normally? This is where emergency heat comes in. Typically, this setting on your thermostat kicks on when the temperature is anywhere between 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the best heat pump setting for summer?

' To achieve an optimal balance between performance and energy usage, we recommend that you set your heat pump / air conditioner temperature between 23-26 degrees (cooling) in summer and 18-21 degrees (heating) in winter.

Why does my house feel cold with a heat pump?

Gas furnaces produce air that is 130-140°F range. So 85-92°F feels cold to new heat pump owners. Your body temperature is around 98.6°F (everyone's body temperature is slightly different, but that's the average). Since heat pumps produce air that's below that, it can feel cold to you.

When should I turn my heat pump off?

Here are some times you might consider turning it off:
  1. Vacations: If you're leaving your home for an extended period, adjusting your thermostat settings is an energy-efficient solution. ...
  2. Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential for your heat pump to operate.

Should you turn off your heat pump in extreme cold weather?

Contrary to popular belief, air-source heat pumps work amazingly well in winter—even in very cold climates.

What is the most economical way to run a heat pump?

Although it seems counter-intuitive, a heat pump runs at its most efficient if it is left on all the time, rather than short blasts of heat in the morning and evening. This is because it is far easier to maintain a cosy temperature than it is to heat up your home from a cold baseline.

At what temperature is a heat pump useless?

Heat pumps do not operate as efficiently when temperatures drop to between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for most systems. A heat pump works best when the temperature is above 40. Once outdoor temperatures drop to 40 degrees, heat pumps start losing efficiency, and they consume more energy to do their jobs.

Do heat pumps use a lot of electricity?

On average, an air-source heat pump uses anywhere from 545 watts to 7,500 watts of electricity. The wattage per hour can be calculated by dividing the British Thermal Units (BTUs) needed to heat or cool your home by the SEER for warm months and the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) for cold months.

At what temperature does a heat pump switch to auxiliary heat?

Auixiliary Heat will turn on automatically when heat can no longer efficiently transfer heat from the outside air to heat pump. This is when the outside is around 35-40 degrees and the indoor temperature is around three degrees cooler than the thermostat setting.

Why does my house feel cold at 73?

If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.

What's the coldest you should let your house get?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home. If there are infants or elderly individuals, they recommend keeping the temperature at 70 degrees at a minimum.

Why does my house feel cold at 20 degrees?

There may be drafts and pockets of colder air near the floor; The walls are colder and don't emit the usual amount of infrared radiation, so you lose heat due to your body emitting more IR than it receives; You may spend more time indoors and hence have less physical activity, so your body generates less heat.

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