If you’re a new heat pump owner in the San Francisco Bay Area, you’ve probably noticed something that feels a little strange compared to your old gas furnace:
- The system seems to run a lot longer
- The air coming out of the vents feels warm, not hot
- When you bump the thermostat up 1-2°F, it can take a while to get there
That doesn’t mean anything is wrong. In fact, it usually means your heat pump is doing exactly what it was designed to do: run longer at lower power to keep your home comfortable as efficiently as possible.
Let’s break down what’s “normal” for a heat pump in our mild Bay Area winters and how to get the best comfort and efficiency from your system.
Heat Pump vs. Furnace: Different Machines, Different Feel
Gas furnace: Fast, hot, on/off
A gas furnace works like this:
- Burns natural gas to create very hot air
- Blasts 120-140°F air for a short period
- Shuts off once the thermostat hits the set temperature
- Waits for the house to cool, then repeats
You feel big swings: hot air during a heating cycle, then cooler air as the system rests. It feels powerful because the air is so hot, even though it may be less efficient.
Heat pump: Steady, gentle, efficient
A heat pump doesn’t create heat by burning fuel. It moves heat from the outside air to the inside of your home using refrigerant - basically an air conditioner running in reverse.
Because of that:
- Supply air is usually 90-110°F, not scorching hot
- The system is designed to run longer, at lower output
- Variable-speed models often run on low speed most of the time
So instead of short, intense bursts, you get long, gentle heating cycles that keep the temperature more stable and use less energy.
Want to see how heat pumps compare to furnaces for your home? Use our Heat Pump vs Furnace Calculator to compare operating costs and long-term savings.
”Why Is My Heat Pump Running So Long?”
In the Bay Area, winter temperatures are usually in the 40s-50s with cool, damp air. That’s actually a perfect environment for a modern heat pump.
Here’s why long run times are normal and good:
They’re built to run long and low
Heat pumps are most efficient when they’re running, not when they’re constantly turning on and off. Long cycles:
- Reduce energy-wasting start/stop cycles
- Keep rooms from getting too warm, then too cool
- Help maintain a more even temperature throughout the house
Gentle temperature changes take time
With a gas furnace, gaining 1-2 degrees can feel almost instant because the air is so hot.
With a heat pump:
- The air is warm, but not scorching
- The system is adding heat slowly and steadily
- That extra 1-2°F can take a while especially if your home is large, drafty, or still warming up from a cold night
Variable-speed systems are “always working in the background”
Many modern heat pumps in Bay Area homes are variable-speed or two-stage:
- On milder days, they run on very low speed for a long time
- On colder, damp nights, they’ll ramp up as needed
That “always on” feeling is actually the system doing its job intelligently, matching its output to what your home needs.
What to Expect From Your Heat Pump in a Bay Area Winter
Here’s what’s typically normal:
Normal Behaviors:
- Long run times on cool days and nights, sometimes almost continuous on the coldest days
- Warm, not hot, supply air - it should feel warmer than your skin, but not like standing over a gas furnace register
- More stable room temperatures, with fewer hot/cold swings
Outdoor Unit Behaviors:
Occasionally, you may see your outdoor unit:
- Build a light layer of frost
- Go into defrost mode, where steam rises off the unit for a few minutes
All of those are normal behaviors for a properly installed heat pump system.
How to Use Your Heat Pump for Best Comfort & Efficiency
Here are some practical tips for Bay Area homeowners.
1. Think “set it and forget it”
Heat pumps hate big temperature swings. Instead of constantly raising and lowering your thermostat:
- Pick a comfortable temperature (many Bay Area homeowners like 68-70°F during the day)
- Leave it there or make small, gradual adjustments
- Avoid big setbacks like 10°F drops at night-2-4°F at most if you like it cooler
Large swings force the system to work harder and longer, and can even trigger electric backup heat on some setups.
2. Don’t panic if 1-2°F takes a while
Want to go from 68°F to 70°F?
- A furnace might get you there quickly with a blast of hot air
- A heat pump will raise the temperature more slowly and smoothly
If you know you like it warmer in the evening, it can help to adjust the thermostat a little earlier rather than waiting until you feel cold.
3. Use your thermostat’s heat pump settings
If you have a smart thermostat (Ecobee, Nest, etc.):
- Make sure it’s set up correctly for a heat pump system
- If you have a dual-fuel system (heat pump + gas furnace), ensure the outdoor lockout temperature and balance settings are correct so the system knows when to favor the heat pump vs. gas
- Avoid using “Emergency Heat” unless directed - this usually bypasses the heat pump for more expensive electric or gas backup heat
Not sure your thermostat is configured correctly? Contact us for a quick check - a proper setup can make a big difference in comfort and efficiency.
4. Understand defrost mode (if you ever see steam)
Even though we don’t get snow, Bay Area winters are damp. That moisture can freeze on the outdoor coil when it’s cold enough.
When that happens, your heat pump will:
- Temporarily switch into defrost mode
- You may hear a change in sound
- Steam may rise from the outdoor unit
- Indoor air may feel slightly cooler for a few minutes
This is normal and helps keep the system efficient.
5. Keep air flowing freely
Good airflow is critical to any HVAC system, especially heat pumps.
- Change or clean your air filter regularly (every 1-3 months for most homes)
- Keep supply and return vents open and unblocked
- Make sure the outdoor unit has at least 2-3 feet of clearance on all sides and the top (no plants, leaves, or storage stacked around it)
Restricted airflow can make the system run longer for the wrong reasons and hurt efficiency.
When Long Run Times Might Be a Problem
Most of the time, a heat pump running for hours in the Bay Area is normal. But you should call for service if you notice:
- ❌ The system runs almost constantly and still can’t reach the set temperature
- ❌ Air from the vents feels cooler than room temperature for long periods
- ❌ Your electric bill jumps dramatically compared to previous months
- ❌ The outdoor unit is covered in ice that never seems to melt off
- ❌ The system is short-cycling (turning on and off every few minutes)
Those can be signs of an installation issue, refrigerant problem, airflow restriction, or a failing component.
Experiencing any of these issues? Don’t wait—call us at (510) 391-5597 or schedule service online. Our technicians can diagnose the problem and get your system running efficiently again.
Bottom Line: Long, Gentle Operation = Normal for Heat Pumps
If you’re used to a gas furnace, your new heat pump will feel different:
- ✅ Less “blast” of hot air
- ✅ More steady, background operation
- ✅ More even temperatures room to room
- ✅ Lower energy use in our mild Bay Area climate
So if your system seems to be “always running” but the home is comfortable and the air is warm - not hot - that’s usually a sign it’s working the way it’s supposed to.
If you’re ever unsure whether what you’re seeing is normal, that’s when it’s worth getting a professional to take a look and make sure everything is set up correctly for our Bay Area winters and your particular home.
Need Help With Your Heat Pump?
Whether you’re experiencing issues or just want to make sure your system is optimized for maximum efficiency and comfort, we’re here to help.
Bay Area Climate Control offers:
- Expert heat pump diagnostics and troubleshooting
- Thermostat configuration and optimization
- System performance tune-ups
- Airflow and efficiency assessments
- Annual maintenance to keep your heat pump running reliably
Call (510) 391-5597 or schedule your service appointment online.
We serve Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, San Jose, and 50+ Bay Area cities with same-day emergency service available when you need it most.