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Category: Elephant Blog

How to Use Your Heat Pump During Extreme Heat: 6 Expert Tips for Maximum Cooling

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When extreme heat and heat waves hit your area, your heat pump becomes your best friend for staying cool and comfortable. But here’s the thing—a little prep work can make all the difference between struggling through the scorching temperatures and cruising through them with ease.

We’ve helped thousands of homeowners optimize their heat pump performance during extreme heat, and we’ve learned exactly what works (and what doesn’t). Here are our top six heat pump tips to maximize cooling efficiency when temperatures soar.

1. Clean Your Heat Pump Filters (This Is Big!)

Let’s start with the most important heat pump maintenance tip: clean filters are everything. Seriously, this is the #1 culprit behind degraded heat pump cooling performance during heat waves.

Elephant Energy technician demonstrating how to clean wall-mounted mini split heat pump filters during extreme heat maintenance

Check the filters in all your indoor heat pump units (mini-splits) and give them a good cleaning if they’re dirty. It’s easier than you think, and the cooling performance boost is immediate. Clean filters mean better airflow, which means your heat pump system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you comfortable during extreme heat.

For mini-splits, you’ll want to check both ceiling-mounted and wall-mounted units. The good news? Most filters just pop right out and can be cleaned with water and a gentle brush.

We’ve got you covered with step-by-step videos from our team showing exactly how to do this:

It’s easier than you think!

2. Clear Off Your Heat Pump’s Outdoor Unit

Your heat pump’s outdoor condenser unit is working overtime during extreme heat, so give it some breathing room. Leaves, twigs, pollen, and general debris can block airflow and seriously reduce your heat pump’s cooling efficiency.

Here’s what to do: Gently rinse the outdoor heat pump unit with a hose to clear away any buildup. Don’t use high pressure—just a gentle rinse will do the trick. Think of it as giving your heat pump a refreshing shower so it can keep cooling your home efficiently.

Adrian from our install team walks you through the whole process here—it’s quick and straightforward.

Clean Mitsubishi heat pump outdoor condenser unit properly maintained for optimal cooling performance during extreme heat

3. Optimize Your Heat Pump Thermostat Settings

We get it—when it’s blazing hot outside, the temptation is to crank that thermostat down to arctic levels. But here’s the reality: setting your heat pump thermostat way lower won’t cool your home any faster during a heat wave. It just makes your system work harder and your energy bills climb higher.

The Department of Energy recommends 78°F as the sweet spot for both comfort and heat pump efficiency during hot weather. Pick a comfortable temperature and let your heat pump do its thing. These systems are designed to maintain consistent temperatures efficiently during extreme heat—trust the process.

4. Boost Your Fan Speed (Mini-Splits)

If you have mini-splits, try setting your fan to the highest speed you’re comfortable with. Higher fan speeds help circulate air more effectively throughout your space, which can make you feel cooler even at the same temperature setting.

Here’s a quick video showing you how to adjust your fan speed—it’s just a few button presses on your remote.

It’s like having a gentle breeze indoors—sometimes that air movement is exactly what you need to feel comfortable.

Clean Mitsubishi heat pump outdoor condenser unit properly maintained for optimal cooling performance during extreme heat

5. Keep the Airflow Flowing

This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how often it gets overlooked. Make sure nothing is blocking your vents—no furniture pushed up against mini-split units, no curtains draped over return grills, no boxes stacked in front of duct vents.

Your heat pump needs to breathe to do its job effectively. Clear pathways mean optimal performance.

6. Don’t Shut It Off Overnight

Here’s where we see a lot of folks make a well-intentioned mistake. It might seem logical to turn your heat pump off at night to save energy, but during extreme heat, this actually backfires.

Heat pumps work most efficiently when they’re maintaining a consistent temperature. When you shut them off and turn them back on later, they have to work much harder (and use more energy) to bring your home back to a comfortable temperature.

Going away for a few days? You can raise the temperature slightly—maybe 3-5 degrees—but avoid dramatic swings. Small adjustments are much easier on your system and your energy bill.

The Bottom Line on Heat Pump Performance in Extreme Heat

Your heat pump is designed to handle extreme heat and hot weather, but these simple heat pump maintenance steps help it work smarter, not harder. A little heat pump care and smart usage goes a long way toward keeping you comfortable while keeping your energy costs in check during heat waves.

Remember, we’re all in this together when it comes to staying cool and comfortable during extreme temperatures. Heat pump systems are pretty amazing when they’re well-maintained and used properly—they’ll keep you comfortable through whatever hot weather Mother Nature throws your way.

Stay cool out there, and remember: taking care of your heat pump means it’ll take care of you when you need it most.

Need help with your heat pump or have questions about performance? Our Service Team is here to help you get the most out of your system. Contact us at service@elephantenergy.com.

It’s Here… Elephant Energy Has Officially Launched in Los Angeles!

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We’ve installed over 1,000 heat pumps across Colorado and Boston, and now we’re expanding our electrification expertise to the Golden State – the land of sunshine, palm trees, and homes destined for heat pumps.

Los Angeles summers are getting hotter, utility bills are rising, and gas-powered heating is on its way out. A high-efficiency heat pump is the coolest (and smartest) way to keep your home comfortable year-round.

So… Why LA?

You might be thinking, Wait – Elephant Energy, aren’t you the cold-climate heat pump experts? You’ve tackled Boston’s frigid winters and Colorado’s wild temperature swings, so why expand to sunny Southern California?

A few reasons:

  1. One system, year-round comfort – Most LA homes don’t need a furnace running all year – so why pay for one? A heat pump heats on chilly winter nights and cools on those sweltering summer days, all in one energy-efficient system.
  2. It gets HOT – SoCal summers are no joke. Heat pumps provide more even, efficient cooling than window ACs or swamp coolers, so you’re not stuck in one cool room while the rest of your home stays unbearably hot.
  3. Big rebates are on the table – Between federal, state, and local incentives, switching to a heat pump is more affordable than ever. Many LA homeowners qualify for thousands in rebates to help offset costs. Check out the full breakdown here.
  4. Better air quality – With worsening wildfires and pollution, indoor air quality is a growing concern. The EPA reports that pollutant levels inside homes can be 2-5x higher than outdoors, and gas-burning appliances only make it worse. Heat pumps eliminate indoor combustion, helping to keep your air cleaner, gas-free, and reducing fire hazards.
  5. Climate action starts at home – California’s got some big climate goals and is aiming to install 6 million heat pumps by 2030 to cut carbon emissions. We’re here to help make that happen (hey, maybe we’ll install all of them 😉). Buildings account for almost 40% of our emissions, so if you’re a homeowner, home electrification is the simplest, easiest, most important thing you can do to make an impact.

Next Question: Which Areas of LA Are We Operating In?

We’ll be initially operating from Pasadena to Rancho Cucamonga between the 210 and 60 freeways  (Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Chino, Upland, Montclair, Claremont, La Verne, San Dimas, Pomona, Duarte, Baldwin Park, Monrovia, El Monte, Rosemead, Temple City, Arcadia, San Gabriel, Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Marino, Pasadena, La Puente, Azusa, Glendora Covina, West Covina, Walnut).

If you’re in the greater Los Angeles area, we’re here to help. Not sure if you’re in our service area? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to assist.

What Services Are We Offering in LA?

Why This New Market is Important

“Establishing a presence in Los Angeles was a natural next step for our team,” said Elephant Energy co-Founder, DR Richardson. “This is a city that has seen firsthand the devastating impact of climate change, and we know LA residents are actively looking for ways to make their homes and lives safer and more climate-friendly. There is a clear demand for these technologies here, and want to make the process less complex and more accessible. “Making your home safer, more comfortable, and reducing your carbon footprint shouldn’t be hard.”

The Best Part?

We’re here to make it simple for SoCal. Most HVAC companies sell heat pumps. We specialize in them. From expertly sizing your home to securing every last rebate, we’re with you along the entire electrification journey, so you can sit back and enjoy your newly-electrified home.

Ready to make the switch? Get started to take the first step toward a more comfortable, energy-efficient home.

Get Started Now

Building a More Equitable Energy Future: Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

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#DiversityWins

At Elephant Energy, we believe that diversity drives innovation and success. This isn’t just a perspective we hold – it’s a fundamental principle that guides how we operate. We’re building a company that reflects the diverse communities we serve, treating all people equally regardless of their background, and creating an inclusive workplace where every voice matters. These commitments aren’t just good business practice; they’re morally imperative.

Our mission is to make electrification and energy efficiency accessible and affordable for all. We can only achieve this if we ensure that the energy transition is equitable and just. Here’s how we’re turning this commitment into action:

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Company

Research consistently demonstrates that diverse teams drive innovation and deliver stronger business performance. By fostering an inclusive work environment where all voices are heard and valued, we’re creating a more resilient organization.

We’re committed to building a team that represents a wide range of backgrounds, with particular focus on reflecting the communities we serve. This includes actively recruiting people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others from underrepresented communities. While we’re still working toward this vision, we’re strengthening our efforts by:

  • Broadening our recruitment channels
  • Building partnerships with organizations supporting underrepresented talent
  • Refining our hiring processes to ensure greater equity and inclusion
  • Expanding into new markets with inclusivity at the forefront

Ensuring Equitable Access to Electric Air + Water Heating

Affordable electrification is essential for healthy communities, yet many low- and moderate-income (LMI) households face significant barriers to electrification. While some receive discounted utility rates, gas heating often remains the most cost-effective option. 

The health benefits of electrification are particularly crucial for vulnerable communities:

  • Unlike gas appliances, heat pumps and induction stoves eliminate indoor fossil fuel combustion, reducing harmful pollutants
  • Improved heating and cooling systems help prevent health issues related to temperature extremes
  • Better humidity control prevents mold growth and improves indoor air quality
  • Enhanced ventilation systems protect against respiratory illnesses

Taking Action: Our Current Initiatives

Under the leadership of our Environmental Justice Lead, Gurbani Singh, we’re expanding our impact through several key initiatives:

Strategic Partnerships and Innovation

At the core of our mission is a commitment to forging strategic partnerships and pioneering innovative solutions that break down barriers to sustainable energy. By working closely with local and national partners and leveraging breakthrough financing and design strategies, we’re making it easier for low-to-moderate income households to access energy-efficient technologies. Key elements of our strategy include:

  • Collaborating with LMI communities to provide heat pumps at minimal or no cost
  • Streamlining installations through our one-stop-shop approach
  • Implementing innovative financing models to increase accessibility
  • Designing smaller, high-performance systems that reduce both upfront and ongoing costs
Our first multi-family install in October, 2024. 6 units upgraded to cold-climate heat pumps at zero cost to the tenants or property owner.

Milestone Achievements and Future Goals

We recently celebrated installing our 1,000th heat pump for a family facing financial hardship – a significant milestone in our mission to expand energy access. Additionally, our 2024 projects with Energy Outreach Colorado in Denver and Leadville—which included designing heat pump and electrification systems for multifamily LMI units— demonstrate how strategic partnerships can make sustainable energy solutions widely available.

Education and Outreach

We’re broadening our outreach beyond traditional energy-sector audiences to reach communities who may be unfamiliar with electrification benefits. Through comprehensive education initiatives, we’re helping more people understand how energy-efficient solutions can improve their lives and how to access available programs.

Looking Forward

By fostering an inclusive culture and broadening opportunities through our initiatives, we’re working to build a more sustainable and equitable energy future for all. This commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion isn’t just about meeting corporate responsibilities – it’s about creating lasting positive change in the communities we serve.

Heat Pump for the Holidays: Celebrating our 1,000th Install!

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climate-friendly homeelectric home upgradesheat pumphome electrification

We’re officially in the comma club (best Christmas ever). 

DR Richardson, Co-founder of Elephant Energy, shaking hands with Justin Bailey, Lafayette Homeowner, who just received the gift of a cold-climate Mitsubishi Heat Pump. Photo creds: Bri Adair

This week, Elephant Energy celebrated a milestone we’ve dreamt about since day one: our 1,000th heat pump installation. 

It took us 15 months to install our first 100 heat pumps. Today, we’re installing 100 heat pumps every month. Reaching 1,000 installations is a huge milestone – not just for Elephant Energy, but for the climate. Homes contribute 20% of climate-related emissions annually, and heating and cooling are the biggest culprits. Thanks to these 1,000 installations, our homeowners have collectively prevented more than 4,000 tons of carbon emissions that would have come from gas-powered furnaces (that’s equivalent to the emissions from driving more than 17 million miles in a gas-powered car). 

At Elephant, supporting our communities is at the heart of what we do, and it was a no-brainer to celebrate this 1,000th milestone by giving back to our community during the holiday season.

We were thrilled to donate a brand new cold-climate Mitsubishi Heat Pump to a deserving family in Lafayette, Colorado – an upgrade that will bring them year-round comfort, lower energy bills, and a smaller carbon footprint. For us, this wasn’t just about hitting a number. It was about showing what’s possible when we prioritize accessibility and affordability in electrification.

Colorado homeowner Justin Bailey had been living without central cooling, and hoped to switch to a heat pump to reduce his fossil fuel use, but was waiting for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rebates to roll out in Colorado. Here at Elephant, we know that electrification has been inaccessible or unaffordable for far too many people for far too long, and we have made it our mission to change that. That’s why we stepped in to make his heat pump dream a reality.

Justin Bailey, Lafayette Homeowner, cutting the ribbon to his holiday gift: a brand new cold-climate Mitsubishi Heat Pump. Photo creds: Claire Duncombe, Boulder County’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action and Resilience

“I’m a huge believer in electrification – for the climate, for your health, and for the comfort and efficiency it brings. A year ago, I started looking into getting a heat pump, but quickly realized I couldn’t afford it. I explored all the rebate programs out there, and then this amazing surprise opportunity came along from Elephant Energy. My heat pump has only been running since yesterday afternoon, but it’s completely silent, and I couldn’t be happier.” says Justin.

You know we love ribbon cuttings, so in true Elephant fashion we grabbed our Elephant-sized scissors and gathered with our local partners from the City of Lafayette, Xcel Energy, Go Electric Colorado, Rewiring America, Sierra Club, and Boulder County to celebrate this milestone and hear from the leaders on the important role they’re all playing in the home electrification movement.

We’ll continue to shout it from the rooftops: Electrification is a collective movement. This milestone is a testament to what can be achieved when people and organizations come together to make electrification a reality. Big thank you to our valued partners, Treehouse, CD Jones, and Mitsubishi, who generously covered the cost of electrical work and equipment to help make this installation a reality.

“We’re thrilled to be working with our partners at Elephant Energy to make the implementation of clean energy technology, like heat pumps, more accessible. Through our joint efforts, we hope to make the home electrification process simpler and enable homeowners to embrace sustainable technologies with greater ease and affordability.” says Eric Owski, Founder and CEO of Treehouse.

As we look ahead to our next 1,000 installations, we’re inspired by the collaboration and shared vision that got us here. Here’s to a future where every family has access to the benefits of clean, efficient technology – and to building it together.

Happy Heat Pump for the Holidays. ❤️🎀

How Much Should Your Heat Pump Really Cost?

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climate-friendly homeelectric home upgradesheat pumphome electrification

We’ve seen it – and been through it – countless times. You want a heat pump, contact eight different contractors, half of them won’t install heat pumps, and the other half give you quotes that vary by thousands of dollars, likely without the rebates or incentives factored in that can substantially reduce the cost. It’s overwhelming, and leaves you feeling uncertain about what to do next.

We’re here to change that, and make transitioning to a climate-friendly home easy. That’s why we built a new tool: a free calculator that estimates the upfront and operating costs of installing a heat pump or heat pump water heater in minutes. It’s designed to take the guesswork out of the process, giving you clear, straightforward pricing to help you budget for electrifying your home and understand what to expect – no surprises, just transparency.

How It Works

Our calculator simplifies what would otherwise be a long, complicated process. Instead of asking you for tons of technical details, we ask you a few simple questions like your square footage, ductwork, and weather sealing and take over with our expertise in heat pumps from there.

How We Built It

We didn’t just guess at the numbers. Our team drew from the extensive database of heat pump installations we’ve completed in Colorado and Massachusetts over the last two years. We use real data from homes similar to yours – factoring in house size, heating needs, and even local temperature history to provide the most accurate estimate possible without talking to you first.

Let’s break it down:

  1. Sizing Your Home: We’ve built the calculator using our expertise in building science and system sizing. Your home is matched to one of our 1,000+ completed installs, with careful attention paid to square footage and heating needs.
  2. Energy Usage: We use a simplified home heating model to estimate how much energy is needed to keep your home comfortable at last year’s daily temperatures, and then to get accurate costs for energy usage. Our tool integrates with local weather data and adjusts based on specific conditions, like whether you’re at a higher elevation or experiencing extreme temperatures.
  3. Rebates and Incentives: The calculator also pulls in all available rebates and incentives for you – including tax credits and income-based incentives. We make sure to show you the maximum savings you may qualify for, taking the hassle out of finding these benefits yourself.
  4. Assumptions: While we’d love to give you an error-free quote down to the dollar without talking to you, technology isn’t quite there yet. The calculator was built on standard assumptions like your floor height, insulation quality, how many windows you have, and the efficiency rating of your existing furnace.

Let’s be real. Heat pumps aren’t cheap, and neither is your time. That’s why we built this calculator: to save you hours of research and back-and-forth with contractors, so you can have a general understanding of what home electrification should cost you.

Ready to start your home electrification journey?

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