Caring for your heat pump is easily and often discounted as a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity. However, heat pumps are an asset in your home and to your own personal comfort so therefore they are worth taking care of.
The Importance of Heat Pump Maintenance and Servicing
Longer lifecycle – Like anything with a motor, regular maintenance and servicing is important for your heat pump to keep it running as well as possible for as long as possible.
Enhancing efficiency – Efficiency should be a key driver to get your heat pump serviced regularly, after all, isn’t efficient heating why you had a heat pump installed? When the filters and coils are blocked, it is costing you more in energy consumption.
Health benefits – Regular heat pump servicing helps keep the core of the coil and fan blades bacteria and odour free, as well as keeps the filters doing their job of removing larger dust particles from the air in your home.
Improved comfort – If your heat pump isn’t at its peak and heating or cooling proficiently it’s directly impacting your comfort levels.
When to Service Your Heat Pump
A good brand, serviced regularly, should have a life span of 15 years or more. Not servicing your heat pump can reduce this life span by at least 5 years or cause the heat pump to perform poorly for a large portion of its life span.
Your heat pump should be serviced before you really need it. We recommend leading up to winter and, if you use it for cooling, before the peak of summer. If you notice your power bills have increased without an obvious reason it could be your heat pump is not running well and needs a service.
But I Clean my Filters, I Don’t Need a Service
We hear this a lot and it’s important to know that cleaning filters and servicing are 2 different things. Filter cleaning is great, good on you, but only the first maintenance step.
Bacteria and microscopic particles still get past the filters and grow by themselves. A heat pump service from Wellington Refrigeration will include the checking of the mechanical operation as well as the deep cleaning of the core of both the indoor and outdoor unit.
What a Wellington Refrigeration Service Involves
Because heat pumps are our area of expertise, we know what your heat pump needs to remain running at its best. You’ll also receive a copy of our checklist. Our heat pump service includes:
Clean and disinfect the systems’ coils and fan blades
Clean the covers
Clean and disinfect drain trays and pipes
Clean the condensate pump if fitted
Clean air filters
Check the electrical components and wiring
Check for any refrigerant gas leaks
Check the systems fault diagnostics
Check temperatures
Check the systems general operation
Check noise levels – including unusual motor or bearing noises
Discuss any operation and maintenance requirements if necessary
What Can I Do?
Check your heat pump manual and follow any instructions it gives on maintenance and cleaning.
Clean supply and return grilles/louvers with a damp cloth and make sure they’re not blocked.
Filters can usually be removed and cleaned simply by vacuuming or washing with a bit of warm soapy water.
Clean the outdoor unit, gently hose it down to remove dirt, and brush to clear cobwebs and
bits of plants and leaves that have gathered or have been sucked in the back of the coil. In high sea-spray areas, we recommend doing this as regularly as monthly or more! Take care to not damage the fins.
Beware – the fins on the coils are very sharp, we recommend using correct PPE including gloves, and if in doubt – leave it to us!
My Heat Pump Actually Isn’t Working Properly
Our first recommendation is to get in touch with us – 04 565 0550, but we are Kiwis too, we know you’re going to have a crack first.
- Replace your remote-control batteries. (life hack: looking at the ‘sender’ diode on your remote through your phone camera will pick up the infrared signal)
- Check the switch or external isolator, and if you feel comfortable – check the circuit breaker in your fuse box.
- If the temperature is right but the air flow is weak check that the filters aren’t clogged with dust and in need of cleaning.
- Check the heat pump manual’s troubleshooting section and follow any instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- Give it a cuddle and speak sweet nothings to it
- If you don’t see any improvement after following these tips, it’s time to call in Wellington Refrigeration.
Summary
The team at Wellington Refrigeration hope this information has helped you in the care and maintenance of your Heat Pump. We look forward to booking you in for a service in the very near future.
