How to Maintain a Heat Pump

Have you heard about heat pumps? These innovative and energy-efficient systems are not only environmentally friendly, but they require little maintenance to provide long-lasting heating and cooling to your home.

However, like all heating and cooling systems, homeowners who adopt heat pumps into their lives must be prepared to maintain them to some extent.

The proper maintenance of your heat pump will allow the system to run as efficiently as possible, saving energy and money in the long run. There are several simple ways to make sure that your home’s heat pump is running as smoothly as possible, so just follow our guide to apply the proper maintenance and care for this important system!

Here are Some Heat Pump Maintenance Tips

Cleaning the Heat Pump Filter

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A heat pump's filter needs to be cleaned periodically for the system to run in an effortless fashion. Most modern heat pump systems have an indicator located on the physical system that will alert homeowners when it is time to clean or change the filter. It is important to manually check heat pump filters at least once a month to be certain that they are clean and working as efficiently as possible, as a dirty filter will reduce airflow through the system.

Cleaning the filter of a heat pump is fairly simple, and can be done by way of the hose of a vacuum cleaner. Make sure to check with specific manufacturers regarding specific filter cleaning methods that are required for your home's heat pump. Filters should also be changed periodically if you notice that they are collecting more dirt than usual or are not cleaning as well as before. 

Outdoor Unit

Depending on the type of heat pump you choose to install in your home, it will very likely come equipped with an outdoor unit that will also need to be cleaned. Before cleaning the outdoor unit, make sure the power has been shut off and check the meter to make sure the unit is clear to work on. Since it lives outdoors, it will collect dirt, mud and other outdoor grime.

Clean your outdoor unit using a hose or bucket of water and sponge, scrubbing or hosing off the accumulated dirt. Do not use a pressure washer to clean the unit, as it is much more delicate than it may appear. Further, make sure that the surroundings of the fans and heat pump are free from excessive debris.

Duct Cleaning

Not all heat pumps come equipped with a duct, so depending on your unit, this step may be unnecessary. However, if your heat pump system contains ductwork, it is important to clean the ducts regularly. The average homeowner will not be able to clean ductwork themselves, as duct cleaning requires special equipment to gain access to ducts. Therefore, it is advised to hire a professional to complete this job.  

Heat Pump Fan Motor Maintenance

If you find either unit is making more noise than usual, including hearing squeaks or rattling, this could indicate a problem with your heat pump's fans or motor. Noise coming from the heat pump's motor could mean that it needs to be lubricated to run smoothly. To do this, you’ll likely have to remove the panel that is in place to protect the fan. 

This can be done by removing the screws that hold it in place and keeping the screws in a secure place. Lift the panel that is protecting the fan motor, making sure to be careful of any wiring connections. There will be ports for the motor oil located around the blades of the fan and only a few drops will be required to allow the fan to run smoothly. 

Clean Condenser Coils

Source: Flickr, sm. caruso

The coils of the heat pump are vital to how well it runs and this step will need to be taken with the utmost care as coils cannot be bent in any way. Clean away any sticks, dirt or debris from around the outside of the coil. Next, use a vacuum with a soft bristle brush attachment to brush away dirt from the coil fins.

Again, be very delicate when completing this process as you do not want to bend or damage the fins in any way.  Now, turn your attention to the inside of the condensing unit. Using a hose or spray bottle, work from the inside towards the outside and spray water through the coils. This should work to remove any debris that has gotten stuck. Make sure that you do not spray fan motors or wires, as this will do more damage than good. If you are still finding debris in the unit, remove it by hand. 

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