Don’t neglect your heat pump—call Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to schedule routine maintenance today!
Heat pumps are an excellent type of HVAC system with dual heating and cooling capabilities. They are a great way to make your home more energy-efficient. But do heat pumps need annual maintenance?
In this guide, the heat pump experts share how often you should schedule heat pump maintenance, as well as why it’s important. When your heat pump is due for maintenance, why not turn to Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a trusted heating contractor in Tulsa, OK?
How Heat Pumps Differ From Other HVAC Equipment
The standard HVAC setup for most homes used to be a separate heater and air conditioner. Each system has its own mechanics and operates in different seasons. However, heat pumps bridge the gap, doing the same job as your furnace and air conditioner in one simple package.
Heat pumps act as a dual system for heating and cooling so that you can cut down on the amount of equipment in your home. It works by transferring existing warm or cool air outside, depending on whether you want to cool or heat your home. These systems are also environmentally friendly since they don’t produce heat with combustion and instead use a renewable source.
However, the differences don’t stop there. Heat pumps also require different maintenance compared to furnaces and air conditioners. It’s a simpler system, and twice-yearly maintenance keeps it running smoothly.
Types of Heat Pumps We Service
Think of the countless types of furnaces or air conditioners available. One home may use a gas-powered furnace and window air conditioning units, while another may have an electric furnace and a ductless cooling system. There is just as much variety when it comes to heat pumps, but the most common models include the following:
- Air-source heat pumps: These pumps take any warm or cool air outside and transfer it into your home. They’re also available as a ductless model.
- Ground-source heat pumps: Also known as geothermal heat pumps, these units transfer heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. It is one of the most energy-efficient heat pumps on the market with very low operating costs, though it does cost more to install.
- Absorption heat pumps: These systems use renewable energy sources like solar power, air, and geothermal water to supply your home with heat, along with natural gas.
Fortunately, a team like Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can install a new heat pump, issue repairs, and perform routine maintenance on all types of heat pumps to meet your heating and cooling demands.
How Often Do Heat Pumps Need Maintenance?
So, do heat pumps need annual maintenance, or is it better to do it more twice a year? All HVAC systems should receive annual maintenance. However, given that heat pumps work throughout the winter and summer months, twice-yearly maintenance is essential.
Two regular tune-ups ensure your system works properly at the start of each heating and cooling season. It’s best to schedule your maintenance appointments during the spring and fall so that a qualified technician can address any issues with your system. This way, you avoid dealing with a broken heat pump in the middle of a heat wave or a frigid home when bitter-cold temperatures hit.
Some people will supplement their heat pump with a furnace, just in case they can’t rely on one system to stay warm. If you use a heat pump only as a backup source of heat in the winter, it’s still in your best interest to service it. Why not have a local technician perform maintenance on both systems each fall so that you can have reliable heating for the months ahead?
What To Expect During a Heat Pump Tune-Up Service
What does a maintenance appointment include for a heat pump? When you call a team like Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for heat pump maintenance, you’ll have licensed technicians arrive and follow a detailed checklist. The goal is to leave you with a heat pump in excellent condition so that it provides you with reliable heating and cooling year-round.
The professionals achieve this by including the following items in every maintenance checklist:
- Inspect and clean the filters, coils, motor blower, and air ducts
- Check for leaky air ducts and seal damaged ones
- Adjust refrigerant levels
- Lubricate the motor
- Check belts for wear
- Inspect the heat pump’s thermostat
- Tighten any loose electrical connections
- Run tests to optimize performance levels
If the team happens to find any minor issues in your system, they typically conduct repairs on the spot. That way, you won’t have to worry about having the system break down unexpectedly.
Benefits of Scheduling Twice-Yearly Maintenance
Why do heat pumps need annual maintenance? When you let a professional technician service your heat pump, you can enjoy a wide range of benefits. For one thing, a proper tune-up helps counteract wear and tear so that your system can last longer.
Maintenance is also a great way to boost your system’s performance and energy efficiency. In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that regular tune-ups can make your heat pump up to 25% more efficient. As a result, you can experience:
- Lower energy bills each month
- Money savings that would go toward heat pump repairs or replacement
- A more comfortable home throughout the winter and summer months
How To Maintain Your Heat Pump
HVAC technicians recommend regularly cleaning your heat pump’s air filter to avoid serious problems. The air filter blocks dust, dirt, pollen, and more from entering your HVAC system. If the filter clogs, the heat pump could malfunction.
A simple way to prevent repairs and mechanical damage is to change your filter on a routine basis. Swapping out dirty filters every month will keep your system running efficiently. However, if you smoke or have pets, you may need to change the filter more frequently.
Other steps you can take include cleaning the outdoor coils since any trace of debris can reduce the heat pump’s airflow. Shut off the fan and clean the blades, but for safety reasons, call an expert if you think it needs a mechanical inspection.
Make Heat Pump Maintenance Effortless With a Membership Plan
Many people who ask about maintenance are wary of the costs involved. However, the right team should make payment and scheduling easy. For example, the Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing team offers an annual membership plan to cover your heat pump maintenance at a discounted rate.
If you decide to go with this kind of arrangement, you could even customize your heat pump’s maintenance plan for better value for money. For example, think about whether you want to only pay for one system or add other pieces of equipment to the service, such as plumbing appliances. A typical membership plan usually includes two annual HVAC inspections and discounts on repairs to give you peace of mind year-round.
Schedule Routine Heat Pump Maintenance Today
So, do heat pumps need annual maintenance beyond what’s offered in a membership plan? No, they should run optimally after these tune-ups. However, if you have concerns, it’s best to chat with an experienced service provider like Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing about how to keep your system in top-notch condition all year long. Why not let us perform spring and fall maintenance to ensure your heat pump works in the summer and the winter? Call Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing at (918) 262-5245 today!