Russell & Abbott Blog: Archive for the ‘Heat Pumps’ Category

A Few Things to Know Running Your Heat Pump in Winter

Monday, January 11th, 2021

Did you welcome a new addition to your house during the last year—a heat pump? Congratulations! We’re all fans of heat pumps around here, especially the Onyx models we install, which are ideally suited for the winters in East Tennessee.

But if this is your first winter with a heat pump, there are a couple of things I’d like you to know. If you’ve already run it during the summer, you noticed it didn’t act any different than an AC. That’s just as it should be! But as you change the heat pump over to heating mode for winter, there are a few differences to get used to. After all, a heat pump isn’t a furnace and doesn’t provide heat the same way. Here’s “Olive’s List of Useful Things to Know” about your heat pump in winter.

Tags: Heat Pump Repair, Heating System Repair, Knoxville
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on A Few Things to Know Running Your Heat Pump in Winter

Can a Heat Pump Possibly Match a Furnace’s Performance?

Monday, December 28th, 2020

Let me first make an important statement about comparing a heat pump to a furnace: Home heating is not a race. When you’re searching for a heating system for home comfort, the goal isn’t to get the “swifter, faster, stronger” unit, the world-record holder, Earth’s Mightiest Heating System, the One Heating System to Rule Them All. No, you’re looking for … here it comes … the heating system that makes your family comfortable without wasting energy. Or, put even simpler, you’re looking for the heater that is the right match for your house.

The question of a heat pump vs. furnace comes down to whether a correctly sized and installed heat pump can provide your house with energy-efficient comfort that would match a correctly sized and installed furnace.

Tags: dual fuel systems, Heating System Installation, Onyx Hardcore Line
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Can a Heat Pump Possibly Match a Furnace’s Performance?

It’s Summer, But My Heat Pump Thinks It’s Winter!

Monday, August 10th, 2020

Let’s say it’s a hot day here in East Tennessee. And it probably is, because I’m writing this in August, and I’m sweating through my paws, which makes it hard to handle the keys. Anyway, the temperatures outdoors are high and the air is humid, and all you want to do is retreat back to your home and set the thermostat to turn the heater on …

Wait, no, that’s not right. Why would you turn the heater on?

Unfortunately, you may find this is out of your control because you have a heat pump that has developed its own ideas about the time of the year. Instead of moving heat out of the house the way it should during summer, it’s moving heat inside as if it were winter. You’ve got a heat pump that’s trapped in heating mode—and that’s no fun for anybody. Especially not your dogs, who have to pant hard to overcome double heat.

Tags: Heat Pump Repair, Maryville
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on It’s Summer, But My Heat Pump Thinks It’s Winter!

Olive Answers Some Basic Questions About Heat Pumps

Monday, June 17th, 2019

I field plenty of questions from locals about the different types of air conditioning and heating systems we install and service. Most people have a basic idea of what HVAC equipment does, but not many of the specifics. I’ve had the fortune of lounging around on the couch of the Russell & Abbott offices for a good long while, and I’ve learned book-loads about HVAC equipment from listening to the techs. (I know it looks like I’m sleeping, but these big dog ears pick up almost everything.)

Today I want to talk about the heat pump, which causes plenty of confusion—starting with the name.

Tags: Air Conditioning System Installation, Heat Pump Installation, Maryville
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Olive Answers Some Basic Questions About Heat Pumps

Olive, How Is a Heat Pump Getting Heat Outside in Winter?

Monday, March 25th, 2019

I love it when I get to put on my “Professor Olive” cap and discuss HVAC science. Now don’t worry—I’m not going to test you on this. And the science I’m going to talk about isn’t too tough. It’s just a bit tricky to approach at first because people aren’t used to hearing about “getting heat out of the cold.”

Okay, let’s jump into the question:

“How can a heat pump move heat into a home during a cold winter day?”

Tags: Knoxville, Olive
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Olive, How Is a Heat Pump Getting Heat Outside in Winter?

Why You Should Keep Your Outside Heat Pump Clear in Winter

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017

It’s almost March—but keep in mind that most of March is still officially winter, and our weather often acts just like it. March has a notorious way of walking in through the front door all full of smiles, only then try to try to exit the house by battering down the back walls! I know, I’ve seen it happen: I work as an HVAC dog, and know exactly when the expert team here at Russell & Abbott gets busy during the year. March can get hectic with calls to fix broken heating systems.

(I should bring this up when I’m on the topic: even with spring just around the corner, never ignore a repair issue with your heater! Having the heater fixed right away helps ensure the problem doesn’t worsen, create a health hazard, or put you at risk of a heating system that won’t work at all the next time you really need it.)

Tags: heating maintenance, Knoxville, Olive
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Why You Should Keep Your Outside Heat Pump Clear in Winter

Help! My Heat Pump Is Smoking!

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017

Hey there everybody! How is 2017 shaping up for you so far? There’s one thing I can tell for certain about what’s coming up in these first few months of the New Year: cold weather. It’s a bit warm for winter right now, but we all know that won’t last.

And when the temperature drops, that’s when our hard-working team at MK Russell & Abbott starts putting in extra work to make sure that our great customers stay warm. We’re ready to come out and help repair your furnace or heat pump and make sure your family keeps cozy until the spring thaw.

There are a few heating emergencies, however, that actually aren’t emergencies. While our technicians are busy helping out with heating troubles, I’d like to give you some helpful info on something that looks like an emergency—but probably isn’t.

Tags: Heat Pumps, heating repair, Loudon County, Olive
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Help! My Heat Pump Is Smoking!

Keeping the Outside of Your Heat Pump Clear This Winter

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

Since I’m a dog and built lower to the ground than people are, there are a few things I tend to notice much faster than your average human. For example, on a recent walk I saw that the outdoor cabinet of a heat pump at a house had an alarming number of bushes growing around it. It’s the sort of thing that people who have their eye-lines up five or more feet in the air might not pick up as important. But it’s actually very important. The outdoor cabinet of a heat pump needs to have plenty of clearance around it in order to work properly, both in winter and summer. Let’s focus on winter right now.

Tags: Heat Pumps, Maryville
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Keeping the Outside of Your Heat Pump Clear This Winter

Here’s My Best Advice for Setting Your Thermostat This Winter

Monday, January 4th, 2016

Hello everyone, and welcome to 2016! I know you’ve probably already made your resolutions (I resolved to destroy my chew toys a bit slower this year) but I’d love to add one to your list at this late date. Don’t worry, it’s not a tough one to keep! It’s a resolution that you’ll pay special attention to how you set your home’s thermostat during the winter. Smart thermostat use means energy savings and lower heating bills… without needing to sacrifice comfort.

Tags: Thermostats, Townsend
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Here’s My Best Advice for Setting Your Thermostat This Winter

Professor Olive on How Heat Pumps Work

Monday, December 28th, 2015

The team members at MK Russell & Abbott are kind enough to leave books about heating and air conditioning technology scattered around my favorite couch. This gives me an opportunity to catch up reading about the fine details of how the equipment that keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer actually works. Our technicians often receive questions about how HVAC installations operate, and they can provide answers in the field. But it makes me proud to know that if any of them asked me, they’d get the same helpful, knowledgable answer. (Provided they understand barking.)

Tags: Friendsville, heating and air equipment
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Professor Olive on How Heat Pumps Work

Russell & Abbott Blog