While your heat pump may have worked efficiently this winter and with summer just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to give your home’s heat pump a tune-up. How long has it been since your last maintenance? If it’s been a year or longer, now’s the time to get your heat pump checked.
Because heat pumps operate all year long, they need periodic repairs and maintenance in order to continue performing well. It can cost up to 10 to 25 percent more on your energy bills when your pump doesn’t receive periodic maintenance to keep it running optimally. The cost of a maintenance visit can be offset by your monthly savings, and the benefit of having an HVAC technician inspect your heat pump system to identify small problems can prevent them from becoming huge, expensive problems.
While some small maintenance tasks are easily performed by most homeowners, a yearly checkup should be performed by a professionally trained HVAC technician to maximize energy savings and save you money.
DIY maintenance
- Clean the supply and return registers inside your home.
- Straighten any bent fins.
- Remove vegetation and clutter from around the outdoor unit.
- Clean or replace your filters monthly to extend the life of your pump.
- Clean your outside coils when dirty.
- Maintain the system according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Periodically turn off power to the fan and clean it.
- Operate the system on the “auto” fan setting on the thermostat.
Professional maintenance
Other periodic maintenance that’s best performed seasonally by a professional HVAC technician should include:
- Testing the thermostat and verifying correct electric control
- Inspecting ductwork and fixing clogs or leaks
- Measuring and adjusting the refrigerant charge and fixing any leaks
- Inspecting and lubricating the motor and tightening belts
- Inspecting, tightening and cleaning electrical terminals
For more information about scheduling a heat pump tune-up, or for questions about home comfort issues, contact the professional HVAC contractors at Griffith Energy Services. We’ve proudly served the Mid-Atlantic region for over 100 years.
Written by Kevin Spain
