Heat Pump Maintenance & Tune-Up

A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In winter it pulls heat out of the outdoor air and moves it inside, which means the compressor, outdoor coil and fan run for many more hours than they do in summer. Maintenance is about keeping that equipment moving heat efficiently and making sure the parts that only work in cold weather, like the defrost controls and backup heat, still respond when they are needed.

On every visit we check the thermostat and the reversing valve, run the system in heating mode, force a defrost cycle and confirm it ends cleanly, energize the auxiliary heat strips, measure the refrigerant charge and clean or replace the filter. The exact Standard and Premium checklists are in the table above, and every number we take goes on your written report so you can compare it year to year.

Because one machine handles both heating and cooling, a heat pump does the work of two systems. Most manufacturers recommend professional service at least once a year, and twice a year is the better rhythm: a heating check in the fall before the first cold snap, and a cooling check in the spring. Keeping up with annual maintenance is also commonly a condition of manufacturer warranties, so keep your reports.

If you would rather not track dates, the Home+ Comfort plan includes two Standard visits a year and reminds you when they are due.

Change or wash the filter every one to three months. A clogged filter is the most common cause of a heat pump that runs constantly and still feels weak. Keep at least two feet clear around the outdoor unit, and after a snowstorm brush snow off the top and sides so air can move through the coil. Never chip ice off the fins; a light frost that clears every so often is normal, and the defrost cycle handles it.

Keep the thermostat on one steady setting instead of large overnight setbacks. Big jumps in the morning can call the electric backup heat, which costs much more to run than the heat pump itself.

Call for service rather than waiting for a tune-up if the outdoor unit is encased in ice that does not clear, the system blows cool air in heating mode, the emergency or auxiliary heat light stays on, your electric bill jumps without a change in weather, or you hear grinding, rattling or repeated short cycling.

These are repair problems, not maintenance items. Our heat pump repair team can diagnose them, and if the system is near the end of its life we can walk you through heat pump installation options and current rebates.

Standard is the complete seasonal tune-up with the safety and performance checks every heat pump needs. Premium adds deep-clean work and a fuller set of readings, including the outdoor coil foam-clean and rinse, superheat and subcooling, amp draws and static pressure, plus a photo report. Premium is a good choice if the coil has never been cleaned, the system is more than a few years old, or you want a full baseline.

Have a ductless system instead of ducted? See mini-split maintenance. Comparing every system? See all heating tune-up prices.