I have a Lennox heat pump. My builder was required to put one in per our neighborhood association. However, he set the thermostat so that it would never kick on because he thought I would like the hotter air provided by the gas furnace. I was thinking with the price of gas on the rise the heat pump may be worth a try. It looks like the thermostat is set on 30 degrees when I take the cover off on the outside unit. What should the thermostat be set at for the winter? Is there anything else I should know or need to do before using the heat pump?

To maximize your heat and electric usage efficiency:

Set the Heat pump to run whenever the furnace runs, but when the outside temperature is below 25 degrees, turn your thermostat to "Emergency Heat" or "Auxillary" - which shuts off the Heat Pump.

[Your heat pump may have a setting for "don't run under X degrees - so you don't have to do anything manually - but I kind of doubt it. Can't hurt to check though.]

Thanks rickj. Is the thermostat on the outside unit what I need to change so the heatpump will kick on? Is that what tells the heatpump not to kick on. An airconditioning repariman told me the thermostat on the outside unit was set so that it would never kick on. What should it be set at to run when the furnace runs? 25 degrees?

Let me ask first: What city are you in?

If the contractor was right, then I'd have to assume that it rarely, if ever, gets below 30 degrees there. Is that right?

Kansas City... it frequently is below 30 degrees in the winter.

I've never changed the setting of a HP from whatever the default is, so I'm not sure...

But the setting of 30 degrees and what the contractor told you just don't jive.

If your area never got below 30 then I'd buy that the setting of 30 would be the same as "never come on".

Did he not leave you with the owner manual?

What make and model is the Heat Pump? I'll see if I can find an owner manual for the settings.

Heat pumps can heat for less in mild weather. The thermostat outside controls when it runs based on how cold it is outside. The heat pump must also have a signal from the thermostat inside the house. I am not sure how your controls are set up. You may need to manually reset the heat pump from cooling to heating. If you can't figure out the controls, you may need to study any manual you have for it, or go to the manufacturer's website.

I have not been able to find the thermostat setting in the literature that was left. It focuses more around the installation process. I will check with Lennox. Thanks for the input.