Heat Pump Maintenance: What to Do Yourself and What to Leave to a Pro

A heat pump runs all year here, heating in winter and cooling in summer, so it works harder than a furnace that sits idle half the year. A little maintenance keeps it efficient and helps it last.

What you can do yourself

• Change or clean the filter. Check it monthly. Replace disposable filters every one to three months, more often with pets or during wildfire smoke season.
• Keep the outdoor unit clear. Leave a couple of feet of open space around it. Pull leaves, moss and blackberry vines away, especially in fall.
• Keep it off the ground. In our wet climate the unit should sit on a pad or stand so water and ice drain away.
• Don't cover it in winter. A heat pump needs airflow year round. Covers trap moisture.
• Keep indoor vents open. Closing lots of vents can strain the system.
• Clean ductless filters. Mini split heads have washable filters. Rinse them every few weeks.

What a yearly tune-up should include

• Checking refrigerant pressures and looking for leaks
• Cleaning the outdoor coil and checking the fan
• Testing the defrost cycle
• Checking electrical connections and capacitors
• Measuring airflow and checking the indoor coil and drain
• Testing backup heat if you have it

Normal things that look like problems

Steam from the outdoor unit in winter. That's the defrost cycle melting frost off the coil. It's normal.

Frost on the coil. A light layer that clears on its own is normal. A thick block of ice that won't clear is not.

Air that feels warm, not hot. Heat pumps deliver steady, gentler warm air than a gas furnace. The house should still reach the set temperature.

When to call for service

• The house won't reach temperature
• Ice builds up and doesn't clear
• New grinding, rattling or squealing noises
• The system short cycles on and off
• Your bill jumps with no change in weather

If your system is over 12 to 15 years old and needs a major repair, it's worth pricing a replacement before you pay for the fix. Get a replacement quote.