Basic Heat Pump Maintenance Tips

You might say that a heat pump’s work is never done: as soon as the cool weather fades, a heat pump changes over to cooling mode, and when the summer’s gone and a chill re-enters the air, a heat pump jumps back to heating mode.

If you have a heat pump for your home, you need to know how to take care of it so it can continue to do its year-round job. We offer heat pump service in Colorado Springs, CO and we’d like to share some basic tips on how to get the most years out of your comfort system.

Maintenance … twice a year

All HVAC systems require annual maintenance to keep them working at their highest efficiency and for as long as possible. Maintenance also fends off repairs and emergency breakdowns. Your heat pump needs regular maintenance, but unlike an AC or a furnace, it needs to have maintenance twice a year.

The reason for this is that a heat pump acts as both a cooling and heating system, and for the purposes of maintenance needs to be treated as if it were two different devices. It must have maintenance before it starts to work for summer and then maintenance before winter. When you sign up for our VIP Club Maintenance Plan, we’ll make sure you’re scheduled for bi-annual heat pump maintenance.

Change the air filter on a regular schedule

The air filter for the heat pump protects the interior of the heat pump and the air handler from dust and debris coming through the return air duct. The filter isn’t self-cleaning, so you’ll need to regularly replace it with a clean filter or else it will place too much stress on the system. Clogged filters can also interfere with the heat pump’s operation, causing it to overheat and shutdown or provide inferior heating and cooling.

We recommend changing the filter every one to three months. Simple panel filters will need to be replaced more often than thicker pleated filters.

Avoid lowering the thermostat too far

During the summer when you need the heat pump working in cooling mode for long stretches of time, don’t push the thermostat any lower than 68°F. Going lower than this and leaving the heat pump running can cause the system to freeze up and stop working. A good energy-saving setting is 78°F, which will help the heat pump work less and lower your bills.

Clean the area around the outside cabinet

The exterior cabinet of your heat pump contains the compressor, an exhaust fan, and a coil where the heat pump either releases heat (in cooling mode) or absorbs heat (in heating mode). This cabinet needs to be clear of obstructions for at least a foot on all sides or it won’t have the proper airflow to allow for the release or absorption of heat, leading to inefficient performance or even the heat pump overheating. At least twice a year, clear away leaves, debris, tree branches, etc. from around the cabinet. You can also wash down the cabinet using a hose on low pressure.

Just contact the team at Peak Home Performance today to get started!