Once their heat pump is installed and operating, most homeowners tend to forget about this unit until something goes wrong. This is a great way to set yourself up for higher energy bills, compromised comfort, eventual breakdowns and a shorter service life.

A better way forward is to follow a standard set of heat pump maintenance tips that involve some simple do-it-yourself tasks combined with a yearly or twice-yearly professional tune-ups.

Things You Can Do Yourself

  • Make sure to change the air filter in your heat pump at least once a month. Just like any other forced-air heating or cooling system, a split-system heat pump requires smooth airflow to operate at its best. Inspect your filter monthly and change or clean it when it looks dirty.
  • Remove leaves, sticks, cut grass, foliage and ice from around the outside heat pump compressor. This promotes better airflow through the unit’s coil.
  • Clean the outdoor unit, including the fan assembly and coil. Open up the unit with a screwdriver, and wipe dirt from the fan blades with a wet rag. You can also use a shop-vac to clean the fan motor and shaft. Brush dirt away from the coil with a whisk broom or stiff brush, then use water or a foam cleaner to spray off trapped dirt in the coil.

What’s Involved in a Professional Tune-Up?

  • Cleaning the outside unit (if you left the job to the professional).
  • Inspecting, lubricating and cleaning the blower motor/air handler and the indoor coil.
  • Checking refrigerant levels and adjusting if necessary. If the level is low, your technician will probably look for leaks.
  • Verifying and adjusting airflow through your system, and sealing any duct leaks if necessary.
  • Cleaning your condensate drain and pan.
  • Making sure your heat pump thermostat is working properly, along with other system controls.
  • Checking that all wiring and connections are tight.

For more heat pump maintenance tips, or to sign up for our planned HVAC maintenance program, please contact Stack Heating & Cooling. We serve Cleveland and the surrounding Northeast Ohio communities.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Have Any Questions?

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Otherwise, please feel free to call us or submit this form to schedule an appointment for service or request an estimate. We will contact you shortly!