To properly maintain a wall-mounted heat pump or central ducted heat pump, it is important to clean it every year. Heat pumps require regular check ups to ensure that they are fully functional throughout the year. It is always a good idea to inspect your heat pump systems and other heating and cooling equipment regularly.
Central ducted heat pumps and wall-mounted heat pumps are multifunctional: they offer air filtration, cooling, 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 baseboards 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!
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!
A deficient air flow, comfort issues, a newly noisy wall unit or an unusual smell is coming from your heat pump system? These are all important indicators of a lack of maintenance!
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 a reduced efficiency, lack of regular maintenance can lead to or increase respiratory illnesses instances. Sadly, with our experience in the field, we have to say that the average homeowner does not clean their system on a regular basis, or even do the minimally requested yearly maintenance check up.
These periodical heat pump tune ups are necessary to prevent the multiplication of bacteria, the increase of allergens in the air and the accumulation of mold in your wall unit (wall-mounted heat pump) or in your ducts (central ducted heat pump). The quality of the ambient air generated by a dirty system may be sufficiently affected, resulting in symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and irritation of the airways. Why would anyone continue breathing foul air?
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 furnace in the case of a central ducted heat pump) – This will help reduce energy consumption 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 can accumulate at the compressor vents and cause the compressor to overwork and increase energy consumption.
- Make sure all connections are secure – Loose connections can result in reduced energy efficiency and therefore higher energy costs.
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;
- 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 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 maintenance needs to be performed before periods of heavy use, such as once before heating season and once before cooling season.
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 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 Consumer’s Choice Award!
Contact us:
To ensure your heating and air conditioning system (heat pump) or air conditioning unit is in perfect working order, contact a Duraclim expert.
