Heat pumps offer a more cost-effective way to keep your Dayton home warm, but they need regular care to work efficiently. Otherwise, they’ll end up having to work harder in order to heat your home, which can result in a shorter life span and higher utility bills. While heat pumps usually don’t need maintenance as often as furnaces, it’s still important to make sure you do the following to keep yours in good working condition.
Change the Filter
Changing the filter each month or any time it gets dirty helps ensure that your heat pump is able to run efficiently. When dust or dirt build up on the filter, it causes the pump to run longer and work harder. Putting in a clean filter can help prevent problems from occurring due to wear and tear while also improving your home’s indoor air quality.
Clean the Outdoor Coils
The outdoor coils of your heat pump can get dirty, which reduces airflow. This can end up damaging the compressor and causing the pump to break down. Check the coils on a regular basis, and clean them when necessary to ensure adequate airflow through the system. Make sure you shut off power to the fan before doing so. In addition to cleaning the coils, get rid of any plants, weeds or other growths around the unit. In winter, clear off any ice and snow that collects on the unit.
Schedule Yearly Maintenance
Have a technician inspect your heat pump and perform routine HVAC maintenance on it once a year. This helps ensure that your pump will be able to run efficiently when cold weather arrives. An inspection can also reveal minor problems that need to be fixed before turning into bigger ones. An HVAC technician can check the belts for signs of wear and tear, look for refrigerant leaks, inspect electric terminals, check for adequate airflow and make sure the thermostat is working correctly.
If you need maintenance on your heat pump, contact Ace Hardware Home Services. Our heating and cooling experts provide reliable services in the Dayton area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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