To properly maintain a wall-mounted heat pump or a central ducted heat pump, it is important to clean and service it every year. Regular heat pump service and check-ups by a qualified HVAC professional help ensure your system operates efficiently and reliably throughout the year. It is always a good idea to inspect your heat pump systems, including ductless heat pumps and other cooling and heating system, regularly.
Central ducted heat pumps and wall-mounted heat pumps are multifunctional: they offer air filtration, cooling mode, heating, humidity control and add energy savings to top it off!!!
That being said, with great power comes great responsibility!
What responsibility are you talking about? Responsibility, really? All I’m asking for is clean, cool or warm air…
During the winter months, I’m only asking it to take over my electric baseboard heaters everyday heating money pit!…How complicated can it be???
Come to think of it, I never paid it much attention. I walk right by it every day. You’ll be happy to know it’s never complained before… But then again, I never asked…
Now that you mention it, it seems to be giving me The Look.
Could it be that my heat pump somehow feels neglected???
Poor baby!
Hmmm…Let’s take a closer look, shall we!
Proper system maintenance is a must and keeps you from costly issues!
1. Why maintain your heat pump?
If your heat pump has never been cleaned (Oh my! Poor thing!), it is imperative to do so ASAP!
Deficient air conditioners, comfort issues, a newly noisy wall unit, or an unusual smell coming from your heat pump system are all important indicators of a lack of maintenance plan!
Indeed, preventive maintenance is essential as it contributes to:
- Unit efficiency optimization;
- Energy efficiency – savings;
- Service life increasing;
- Indoor air quality improvement;
- Bacteria elimination;
- Mold and mildew prevention.
In addition to reduced efficiency, lack of regular maintenance can lead to or worsen respiratory illnesses. Sadly, from our experience, the average homeowner does not clean their system regularly or complete the minimally required yearly maintenance check-up, which often includes important electrical adjustments and adherence to maintenance requirements.
These periodic heat pump tune-ups are necessary to prevent the multiplication of bacteria, increased allergens, and mold accumulation in your wall-mounted heat pump or central ducted heat pump ducts. Neglecting tasks such as coil cleaning and checking return pathways or transfer ducts can significantly affect the quality of ambient air, causing symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and airway irritation.
Taking into account your system’s technical specs, system age, and the local climate, following a home protection plan with timely service reminders is essential to keep your heat pump running smoothly. Is essential to keep your heat pump running smoothly. Using a programmable thermostat can also help optimize performance during seasonal changes.
Rule of thumb to make it squeaky clean!
2. What are the steps to follow to keep your heat pump running optimally with good air circulation?
- Clean or change the dirty heat pump filter(s) regularly (the air filter in the wall unit of your wall-mounted heat pump and the air filter in your electric furnace in the case of a central ducted heat pump) – This will help reduce energy bills and improve air quality.
Whether you have a wall-mounted heat pump or a central ducted heat pump, reusable air filters can be cleaned at home every two to three months.
- Inspect the outdoor unit – Make sure it is free of debris build-up and that there are no obstructions in the vents or ducts as it restricts air flow. Twigs, insects, dead leaves or even excess snow buildup can accumulate at the compressor vents and cause the compressor to overwork and increase electricity costs.
- Make sure all connections are secure, loose connections can result in reduced energy efficiency, higher maintenance costs, and increased utility bills.
Be aware that while you can do a surface cleaning of your wall-mounted heat pump or central ducted heat pump yourself every season, professional maintenance is required minimally once a year to ensure the optimal cleaning that will prevent performance issues.
- Have your system serviced annually by a qualified technician – The professional technician will check for any potential problems and ensure that everything is working optimally. This thorough maintenance will remove any mold, check for proper airflow, and ensure that the different parts of your units are in good condition.
2.1 Annual cleaning of a wall-mounted heat pump
By performing seasonal or complete annual maintenance, it will be easier to identify any problems and avoid costly repairs. Said maintenance, often being mandatory for units under warranty, should cover the following for a wall-mounted heat pump
- Cleaning of the wall unit and its interior components (indoor unit);
- Cleaning of the fan coil;
- Pressure through the drain line;
- Cleaning the condenser coil (outdoor unit);
- Checking the condition of the compressor, condenser and evaporator;
- Cleaning the air filter and changing it if necessary (disposable filters).
2.2 Annual duct cleaning of a central ducted heat pump
In the case of a central heat pump, cleaning by a specialized professional usually includes
- Cleaning of the air ventilation ducts;
- Cleaning the condenser (outdoor unit);
- Cleaning the outdoor coil;
- Inspection of the fan motors and the indoor coil;
- Cleaning the air filter and changing it if necessary (disposable filters).
Little advice: For maximum efficiency and to ensure better air quality, heat pump routine maintenance needs to be performed before periods of heavy use, such as once before heating season and once before cooling season, to help reduce energy consumption and ensure your system operates efficiently.
3. Why choose a professional technician?
And most importantly, why is Duraclim’s team the #1 choice of homeowners?
- Up-to-date training: You can count on Duraclim’s care team to provide accurate planned maintenance and cleaning services. We ensure that our technicians are trained and up to date with the required industry standards.
- Reliability and peace of mind: No matter how tall the order is, our technicians are trusted professionals who double check every step of the cleaning process to give you the best service.
- Clean Workplace: Duraclim’s technicians make sure that their work environment is spotless.
- DuraClim won the 2023 and 2024 Consumer’s Choice Award!
Ensure your heat pump or air conditioning unit is in perfect working order, contact a Duraclim expert today!
Also read: How to clean heat pump filters?
