Preparing your heat pump for the heating season requires more than switching it from A/C mode to Heat mode on your thermostat. When you take the time to prepare and maintain your heat pump before the cold weather arrives, you help maximize its performance and catch small problems before they become unwanted expensive headaches during a heating contractor’s busiest season.
How to Prepare a Heat Pump During the Fall
Get started on pre-season maintenance that you can perform by yourself to save on time and costs.
- Prepare the landscaping. Heat pumps require proper air circulation to function efficiently. Take out your pruning shear and clear back shrubs and vegetation that are near or touching the outside condenser/compressor unit. When you finish, the system should have at least a two-foot clearance. Additionally, if any tree branches overhang the system, cut them back so they don’t fall onto the unit during a storm.
- Clean the heat pump’s coils. Use a vacuum to remove dirt and grime from the inside and outside coils. Alternatively, if vacuuming isn't practical, gently rinse off the dirt and grime with a soft spray from your garden hose.
- Clean or change the air filter. Dirty filters make heat pumps less efficient. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction to install a new filter. The fresh filter will reduce the amount of dust and allergens in your home, and keep dust particles from coating sensitive parts, compromising efficiency and performance.
Expert Heat Pump Maintenance
In the fall, hire a trusted HVAC contractor to service your heat pump, make sure it works well and fix small issues before they turn into expensive repairs. During the maintenance process, the contractor will:
- Inspect the following components:
- Capacitor
- Drain pan
- Wiring
- Refrigerant levels
- Circuit board
- Thermostat
- Lubricant levels
- Overall performance
- Clean the following:
- Evaporator and condensing coils
- Condensate drain line
- Blower components
If you have questions about getting your heat pump ready for fall or keeping your home comfortable during the winter, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. We’ve serve the Fort Wayne area since 1963.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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