New Zealand Datsun Club

depends what size your heat pump is, and the size of the room you are trying to heat. If it is too small for the area you are trying to run it in, it could be workin its ass off all day.

Also depends on how cold it gets where you live. The colder it is outside, the harder the unit will work. Depends on the model of your heat pump but from what I have heard most lose significant efficiency below 4 degrees. if you live somewhere where the outside temp gets close to 0 degrees then the outside radiator fins may also ice over.

When they ice over the heat pump with run a defrost phase which will provide little to no heating at all at this time.

The radiator fins should be kept clean too, just like a car radiator, if they get blocked it won't work as well. But its unlikely they will get blocked easy as they are usually pretty well covered by fans and outer casing.

One way to fix this, upgrade your insulation my friend

Insulation is the shit.
Speek freak did my house, and the difference was like comparing a standard A12 auto, to my A15Z.
True stroy.

nzdatman wrote:Anyone here know about heap pumps?
Just had a 5 hundy dollar power bill and got a bit of a shock! I know it's cold but crikey.
Do heat pumps need any kind of maintenance to keep the efficiency up there? Going to try dig out the user's manual but until then just thought I'd see if anyone out there could give any hints? Do you need to clean the fins on the radiators etc? Have just cleaned the air filter thing. Any help much appreciated, cheers.

Hey I install heatpumps everyday, even down in taupo.

What "brand" is it and what model? Hopefully its not LG (LG stands for your Lucky it Goes) By rights it should of been sized right by who ever sold it/installed it so it heats the room and should slow itself down to ease off the current draw, ie not using so much power.

Get a thremometer and check to see what temp is coming out of the indoor unit, run the fan speed on one or two speed to slow it off to get a max temp reading. It should get up to atleast 45degrees.

Is your outdoor unit on the north side of your house, does it get any warm sunlight on it as this helps heaps. Especially down your ways where its really cold round the back of houses.

Does your house have good insulation? underfloor and in the roof space?

Check those things out to see if it improves anything.

Cheers for those suggestions, the big heat pump is a Fujitsu ASTB24LDC, the smaller one is also Fujitsu. Outdoor unit on big pump gets no sunlight to speak of. Will check out the temp output, thanks for the tip.
Insulation in the house is just pink batts is walls and ceiling, poly foam under floor. No double glazing.
Last months PowerBill dropped to $430.

Dropped to $430???!!!!!
Far out man!

Turn the oil Column heater off, and get the refrigerant levels checked in the heat pumps.