Spring is here and the promise of better weather and the change in season often motivates people to tackle spring cleaning chores around the house. Many homeowners also have spring maintenance checklists for their homes and on the top of that list should be getting your air conditioner or heat pump serviced.
If you own a heat pump in Colorado Springs you might be thinking you can skip this in the spring if you had it done in the fall. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. Unlike central heating and air conditioning systems that need to be maintained once a year, heat pumps need maintenance twice a year. Read on to find out why it’s so important.
Why do heat pumps need twice-a-year maintenance?
Your heat pump pulls double duty, providing both heating and cooling to your home. Although it might have some downtime when you’re not using it during the transitions from heating to cooling season and vice versa, your heat pump still works a lot more than a central heater or AC.
When should my heat pump receive maintenance?
Those transitional periods when your heat pump isn’t being used as much? That’s also the ideal time for maintenance. Here’s why:
- Having your heat pump maintained before you really need to depend on it for several months gets it fully prepared for the long job ahead. It’s a bit like spring training for baseball players.
- Although maintenance is a fairly quick and easy process, you won’t miss those hours of downtime when you’re not using it anyway.
- HVAC contractors are usually less busy during these periods and scheduling maintenance is easy.
What happens during heat pump maintenance?
The answer to this is, quite a lot! But in a nutshell, here are some of the important items on a heat pump maintenance checklist that your technicians will examine and test.
- Thermostat
- Electrical connections
- Unit disconnect switches
- Lubrication
- Condensate drain and pan
- Startup and shutdown controls
- Air filter
- Blower wheel and motor
- Belts and pulleys
- Safety panels
- Condenser fan and coil
- Reversing valve
- Defrost assembly
What’ll happen if my heat pump doesn’t receive maintenance?
Well, let’s answer this question by saying that the majority of heat pump repairs we see are on heat pumps that haven’t received regular maintenance. Heat pumps that haven’t received maintenance are:
- More likely to need repairs
- More likely to break down entirely
- Your heat pump’s performance will be mediocre
- Your utility bills will be higher as its performance struggles
- For newer heat pumps, neglecting maintenance could void the warranty
- Your heat pump is less likely to last for its estimated lifespan of 10-15 years
- Your home comfort levels will suffer
We Make Maintenance Easy
Our Healthy Home Agreement is our maintenance program for Colorado Springs area residents. Members receive a variety of benefits such as a complete precision tune-up and professional cleaning, discounts on repairs, 24-hour emergency service, and much more.
Don’t let the weather get you down. Contact Brown’s Heating & Cooling for professional heat pump maintenance.