Is it Difficult to Maintain a Heat Pump?

Learn how a few quick maintenance tips can help keep your heat pump running like new for many years to come.

Many of the questions homeowners have about heat pumps revolve around whether their new heat pump will be challenging to maintain, especially given the wide-ranging climate in Atlantic Canada.

Keeping your heat pump properly maintained is essential to ensuring it operates properly and runs efficiently (thus saving you money). However, it doesn’t take a lot of work to keep your heat pump running like new. As all heat pumps have both an indoor and outdoor unit, both will require occasional TLC to keep them running smoothly.

In addition to do-it-yourself maintenance, you should also schedule professional upkeep from your Daikin Comfort Pro. Professional maintenance is critical to making sure all of the vital components to your heat pump are running correctly, as a certified HVAC professional has tools and skills outside of those of an average homeowner. Later on, you’ll see a rundown of what your heat pump professional will look for and how they’ll keep your heat pump running as good as new.

Clean Your Filter

The indoor air handler unit of your ductless heat pump does a great job of keeping the air in your home clean. However, all of that dust and debris has to go somewhere, and that place is often the air filter inside the air handler. With that in mind, it’s important to clean the air filter of your heat pump every few weeks.

Exactly how often you need to clean the filter depends on how often you use your heat pump, along with the amount of dust, particles, and pet hair in your home. When you first purchase your heat pump, it’s a good idea to check the filter more frequently to gauge how often you’ll need to clean it.

Cleaning the filter on the indoor unit is easy:

• • First, make sure that the heat pump is turned off.
  • Push up the cover on the top of the unit.
  • Remove the filters. This will look very similar to cleaning the lint filter on your clothes dryer.
  • Clean the filters with either a vacuum or by running them through running water.
  • Leave your filters out until they dry.
  • After putting the filter back in, you’ll be good to go.

Summer Heat Pump Maintenance

One of the most important summer upkeep tasks for your heat pump is to make sure that the outdoor unit is clear of any vegetation and debris. While you’re mowing the lawn or doing any yard work, take a few moments to clear any long grass, mowed grass clippings, branches, or dead leaves from around the heat pump. It’s important to clear away any loose vegetation because the unit needs a few feet of clear space to allow for proper airflow. Without proper airflow, the outdoor unit is more likely to have performance issues.

In addition to clearing away vegetation, you should carefully inspect the outdoor unit to make sure that nothing is obstructing the fan. Obstructions can include something such as a small stick or leaves which you may not have noticed from further away.

It’s also a good idea to shut off your heat pump and take a hose to wash off the outdoor unit (especially the coils) and make sure they are nice and clean. Grimy coils won’t immediately affect the performance of your heat pump, but can lead to damage over time.

Winter Heat Pump Maintenance

You can solve many of the problems surrounding winter maintenance by ensuring the outdoor heat pump unit is properly placed. You know your home best, so when the dealer is installing the outdoor unit, be sure to let them know where snow and ice tend to accumulate during the winter. These areas include where large snow drifts tend to appear, and where water forms into ice deposits. Being covered in snow or ice can make it more difficult for your heat pump to operate, so be sure to check for build up reasonably often, especially after a big storm.

Your heat pump should also be placed up off of the ground. This helps for proper drainage during all seasons to make sure the outdoor unit is neither covered in ice or submerged in water.

Professional Heat Pump Maintenance

It’s highly recommended that you schedule your heat pump for regular maintenance by an HVAC professional, like a Daikin Comfort Pro. Professionals can help asses and repair any damage malfunction to your heat pump unit that you wouldn’t be able to detect on your own, potentially saving you more considerable headaches down the road. They’ll inspect the condition and function of the refrigeration coils, the electrical systems, and refrigerant status to ensure that everything is working smoothly.

For those with ducted heat pumps, even when your filter is clean, your ducts can accumulate particles and dust that can impact air quality. We recommend that you hire a duct cleaning company with specialized equipment every few years.

How Much Money Will My Heat Pump Save?

Adding a heat pump to your home stands to save you a substantial amount on your energy bill. Check out our savings calculator to get an estimate on how much you stand to save.