Heat Pump Maintenance: Protecting Your Investment
Investing in a heat pump system, whether a ground source or air source model, is an exciting update to your home heating set-up that will quickly have you cutting down your carbon footprint and saving money.
Like with any costly investment, you will want to make sure that you keep your new equipment running smoothly with the implementation of a regular care and maintenance routine. While some maintenance routines should be left to the professionals, there are steps you can take yourself to keep things in good working order between engineer visits. Here we take a look at what you can do to keep your heat pump healthy. We’ll also break down what work an engineer might carry out during a maintenance visit.
Regular Maintenance You Can Carry Out
New equipment can feel intimidating to get hands-on with, but you needn’t be scared of your heat pump. Carrying out regular cleaning and maintenance is not only easy to do but will help to prevent issues from evolving into bigger and more costly problems. The following steps are maintenance actions that, when undertaken regularly, help keep your heat pump system running efficiently for both energy and money, and help avoid the need to pay out for larger repairs down the line.
1. Change or clean air filters monthly
This keeps them from restricting airflow and hurting efficiency. Refer to your heat pump’s manual for the exact frequency, but once a month is a good rule of thumb.
2. Clean the outdoor unit regularly
Remove leaves, debris, and clutter from around the unit. Keep plants at least 18 inches away for good airflow. You can also gently clean the outdoor coils with a garden hose if they look dirty. Remember to turn off the unit before cleaning and avoid high pressure.
3. Clean the indoor unit
Clean the supply and return registers inside your home. Straighten any bent fins on the registers while you’re at it.
4. Optimise your temperature settings
Ensure that you don’t overwork your heat pump by having it set to inappropriate temperatures. Very cold and very warm temperatures can leave your heat pump struggling to keep up, causing damage in the long run.
Schedule Professional Maintenance
A qualified technician can perform a more thorough inspection and manage any vital cleaning, along with checking for potential problems. This helps your heat pump run smoothly for longer and will check for faults and issues that could escalate.
1. Detailed inspection
They’ll thoroughly inspect the entire heat pump system, including the indoor and outdoor units. This involves checking for any visible signs of wear and tear, leaks, loose connections, or damage to components like fins, coils, and electrical wiring.
2. Performance analysis
They’ll analyse the system’s performance using specialised tools and gauges. This can involve measuring refrigerant levels, airflow, electrical current, and overall efficiency. By comparing these readings to manufacturer specifications, they can identify any potential issues affecting performance.
3. Deep cleaning
They’ll perform a more comprehensive cleaning than you can do yourself. This might involve using specialised brushes and vacuums to clean the condenser and evaporator coils, removing built-up dirt and debris that can significantly impact efficiency.
4. System adjustment
Based on their findings, they’ll make necessary adjustments to optimize performance. This could involve tightening electrical connections, calibrating thermostats, or topping up refrigerant levels (if needed and following regulations).
5. Safety checks
They’ll perform crucial safety checks to ensure the system operates safely. This includes checking for proper venting of exhaust fumes, electrical safety of components, and ensuring there are no loose parts that could pose a hazard.
6. Preventative maintenance
They’ll perform preventative maintenance tasks to minimise future problems. This might involve lubricating moving parts, checking for signs of corrosion, and recommending any potential component replacements before they fail.
7. Reporting and recommendations
After the service, they’ll provide you with a detailed report outlining their findings, any actions taken, and recommendations for future maintenance.
Heat Pump Maintenance from Warmaway
If you have recently installed a heat pump, whether through us or another supplier, we can help you to keep it fully functioning and well maintained. Our technicians deliver a leading service, installing and maintaining air source and ground source heat pumps with expert care and skill.
You can get in touch to find out more about the maintenance services we offer or browse our renewables, including solar power systems and EV chargers.
