Schedule Heat Pump Maintenance Before It’s Too Late

When the weather starts to cool, it’s time to schedule heat pump maintenance. You want to prepare your equipment well before winter arrives for several reasons.

Benefits of timely maintenance include:

• Saving money. Annual tune-ups are significantly cheaper than the repair or replacement service. Your system will also be more efficient, which lowers your energy bills.
• Make repairs or upgrades. Have a qualified technician assess the condition of every component of the system and prescribe any necessary repairs or upgrades before the winter. Cold weather decreases the efficiency of your heat pump. That’s because your interior coils have to start producing heat to supplement the warmth in the air, so it’s important that they’re clean and in good condition.

Schedule heat pump maintenance with a qualified expert who will do a complete, thorough job of:

• Testing airflow. According to Energy Star, more than half of the heat pumps in the U.S. have significant problems with low airflow and leaky ducts. Qualified technicians will test airflow with advanced tools to locate and fix any issues.
• Sizing and repairing ducts. Faulty ducts can allow up to 30 percent of your conditioned air to escape before it reaches the intended space. Therefore, problems with your ductwork need to be found so you understand any efficiency problems and plan for repairs if they are needed.
• Cleaning and replacing filters. This should be done every two to six months, but especially at the beginning of the heating season.
• Cleaning your system from top to bottom. Each component should be properly cleaned and cleared of all debris. That includes the evaporator coil, condensate pan, outdoor coils, supply and return registers, blower fan blades and the area around the equipment.
• Inspecting the motor and belts. The interior components should be checked to ensure they are in good repair with sufficient amount of lubricant where it is needed.
• Testing electrical and safety controls. All the controls and wiring should be tested to ensure they are functioning well and accurately.

To schedule heat pump maintenance for your home, contact Air-Tro. We’ve provided expert service to Pasadena and the surrounding areas since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Los Angeles, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pump maintenance and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

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