A heat pump is a great investment that can ensure your home is always comfortable while also saving on your heating and cooling costs. Compared to any other option, a heat pump is generally going to be the least expensive way to heat your house during the winter. The main advantage heat pumps have over other HVAC systems is that they’re the only type of unit that can also provide air conditioning and help you maintain your indoor comfort all year long. One issue with a heat pump is that it has higher maintenance requirements than other HVAC units since it runs in summer and winter instead of only one or the other. In this article, we’ll explain why professional heat pump maintenance is so essential and explore the benefits it provides.
1. More Effective Heating and Cooling
A heat pump is no different than any other HVAC unit in that it will eventually start suffering from poor performance if it’s not maintained regularly. If you don’t have your heat pump maintained each spring, it won’t be able to cool your house as well during the summer. That means it also won’t work as well as it should once you switch it to heat mode in the winter. Even if you have it maintained in the spring, you should have it maintained again in the fall since issues can arise over the summer that can negatively impact its heating performance.
One of the most critical tasks for ensuring a heat pump performs properly is cleaning the coil in the air handler inside your house and the coil in the heat pump itself. Regular coil cleaning is essential for ensuring the refrigerant within the heat pump system can effectively capture and transfer heat from inside your house to outside or outside to inside. The issue when either coil is coated in dirt and dust is that it blocks air from reaching the copper refrigerant lines within the coil. That means the refrigerant won’t be able to capture or release nearly the amount of heat it should, resulting in the heat pump system cooling or heating more slowly and less effectively.
2. Improved Energy Efficiency
Maintaining a heat pump to ensure it can perform effectively also makes a major difference in its energy efficiency. The amount of energy a heat pump uses per minute or hour generally never changes. What can change is the amount of heating or cooling the heat pump produces compared to the amount of electricity it uses. If a heat pump is properly maintained and working effectively, it will typically produce at least three units of heat energy for every one unit of electrical energy it uses. The same is true for how much cooling it produces. If it isn’t working properly, the amount of heat or air conditioning it produces can easily be cut in half. That means it will take your heat pump a lot longer to fully heat or cool your house and your energy bills will be higher.
3. Reduced Need for Repairs
Having your heat pump maintained twice a year can also save you money by lessening the chances of it breaking down and you needing to pay for repairs. Although issues can still arise when a heat pump is properly maintained, you’ll almost certainly encounter more frequent and often more serious problems if the unit isn’t well maintained. That’s because when a heat pump isn’t performing effectively, it leads to greater wear and tear as a result of the unit running more.
4. Longer Life Span
Heat pumps have an average life expectancy of somewhere between 10 and 15 years. Part of the reason that the life span can vary quite a bit is simply due to differences in climate that result in some units running much more or much less than others. The other reason is that a heat pump’s life span is hugely dependent on how often it’s professionally maintained. If you have a heat pump that’s never maintained, it could potentially fail and need to be replaced in well under 10 years. This is yet another reason why annual maintenance is critical since it helps protect your investment and ensure you get as many years of life out of your heat pump as you possibly can.
Since 2015, JJ Heating & Cooling Company has been the HVAC company homeowners in Gambrills and the surrounding areas in Maryland have trusted for their heating and air conditioning needs. We offer top-notch maintenance and repair services and can take care of everything no matter what make and model of heat pump you have. We also work on all other types of HVAC units and are ready to help if you need a replacement. In addition, you can turn to us for all your indoor air quality questions and concerns. To schedule a service call to have your heat pump maintained and ensure it works effectively, contact us today.
