Many heat pumps fail within 8 to 10 years, but that isn’t an inevitability for you. With proper routine maintenance, your heat pump can last 15 years or even more. Let’s explore the steps you should take in spring to ensure that longer life.
Smart Thermostat Maintenance
If you don’t yet have a programmable or smart thermostat, it’s time to upgrade. Advanced thermostat control lowers annual cooling and heating costs by up to 10%. They also limit how often a heat pump cycles, which means less wear and tear. Spring is also an excellent time to review your schedules and profiles and update them as needed.
Filter Maintenance
Minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) is an air filter scale that measures filter effectiveness. Choose a premium filter with as high a MERV rating as your HVAC system supports, but don’t go beyond it. Doing so can increase air pressure and, therefore, wear and tear on the system. Have spare filters on hand. Once you start running the AC, at least once a month, check your filter. Replace it when it shows signs of wearing out.
Outdoor Unit Maintenance
Heat pumps generally have an outdoor unit that houses the condenser pump, coil and fan. You need a perimeter around the unit of between 1-3 feet. Keep this area free of grass, overhanging branches, bushes and other foliage. When spring cleaning, and throughout the year, check the cage for a buildup of leaves and other debris and clean it out if necessary.
Professional Spring Tune-Up
The most important seasonal maintenance requires a professional HVAC technician. Schedule a tune-up in spring before you’ll ever need to turn on your cooling setting. During the appointment, a technician will perform a full inspection, clean your equipment, and correct any normal wear and tear.
Correcting wear and tear includes tightening electrical connections; lubricating moving parts; and proactively replacing worn parts, such as ball bearings. Two main components that require deep cleaning are the condenser coil and evaporator coil. Grime buildup on those parts acts as an insulator and makes the system less efficient. That not only means your costs go up but also that the system must work harder and experience more wear and tear. Your technician will also clean the condensate drain pipe, drip pan and wet switch.
Professional Duct Inspection
At least once every other year, you should schedule a duct camera inspection. Even though spring tune-ups don’t include a full duct inspection, you can normally schedule the services together. During the inspection, a technician will identify issues that can impact your heat pump, such as air leakage and significant dust accumulation. If you have those problems, your technician can seal and clean your ducts.
To schedule heat pump service in Phoenix, AZ, call ACE Home Services today. Or you can fill out our online form for a free estimate.
