A heat pump offers a home the great advantage of having both heating and cooling in a single unit. But it also offers a challenge as well, because it works twice as hard as a standard AC or heater. It’s important to see that your heat pump gets the right attention and service each year so that it’s prepared to work for all seasons. We’re now moving toward the hot weather of the middle of the year, so it’s time to get your heat pump ready for long hours in cooling mode.
First things first: schedule professional maintenance
This is where upkeep on a heat pump always starts—calling an HVAC professional to schedule a technician visit. The technician will give the heat pump a thorough inspection of all its parts, and then do various tune-up tasks. It’s not much different than regular vehicle maintenance. A heat pump needs maintenance twice a year, once in spring, and the other time in fall.
Meanwhile—check the outdoor unit
You don’t have to be idle with the heat pump until your maintenance appointment. You can take some basic upkeep steps on your own. We recommend checking around the outdoor unit (the part that houses the compressor) to see if there are any obstructions near it, such as tree branches or plants that have grown close to the grill. The unit needs about a foot of clearance on all side so it can exhaust heat to the outside while in cooling mode. Brush off dirt from the unit as well to improve efficiency.
Reprogram the thermostat
You probably have the thermostat set with programs for the cooler weather. Now that the temperatures are going to be warming up, get the new programs in place. We recommend setting a low of around 78°F for the day, and ten or so degrees cooler for the night. If the temperatures haven’t gotten that high yet, make the adjustments accordingly until they do. This will help you begin to save money.
Check on the filter situation
Changing the filter for the heat pump is something you need to do every 1 to 3 months, depending on filter strength. A new filter should be put in before the summer weather arrives. Changing the filter is something our technicians do during maintenance, but if the filter is already extremely clogged, go ahead and change it out now, otherwise, you’ll waste energy when the heat pump runs. Make sure you have a supply of clean filters on hand for the rest of the year. (They’re usually inexpensive and come in packs.)
Rely on us for a heat pump in the best shape
We’re the HVAC contractor in Tampa, FL who can help you care for your heat pump so it works superbly all through the spring, summer, and early fall. Sign up for our VIP Membership Club to receive the best routine maintenance as well as other benefits such as discounts and priority scheduling. And we’ll be there for the heat pump’s fall tune-up.
The A/C Guy of Tampa Bay Inc. serves Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties. Call us if you need help with your heat pump.