Depending on when you last had us out for heat pump maintenance, it may be time to schedule heat pump service in Winnetka, IL even though it’s late in the summer season. How do you know if it’s time for a tune-up again for your system?
Keep reading to learn more about how often to schedule heat pump maintenance and why you may need a service appointment now ahead of summer ending. You can give our team a call about any concerns you have and we can help you decide if the timing is right for your next tune-up.
Timing Heat Pump Maintenance
Your heat pump works as both a heater and an air conditioner. If you had a separate heater and air conditioner, those systems would each get a break during the off-season while the other system was working. This isn’t the case with a heat pump. It is on and keeping your home comfortable all year round.
Because of this, a heat pump needs maintenance twice per year instead of just once. This may seem like a lot, but just think of it like scheduling service once for the system as a heater and the second time for the system as an air conditioner.
The actual timing of these biannual services is up to you. We usually recommend that you schedule tune-ups at the end of heavy-use seasons like summer and winter. As summer winds down, it’s a great time to schedule maintenance ahead of the winter season.
If you haven’t scheduled service at all yet this year, it is even more important to go ahead and do it now. Regular maintenance is the difference between a heat pump that faces a lot of repair needs and one that runs more consistently. It can also help your heat pump to last longer overall. Perhaps you can get 15 years out of your heat pump instead of just 10 years.
Signs of Heat Pump Problems
Maintenance is important even when your heat pump seems to be working perfectly without any issues. But if you do have concerns about potential heat pump problems it is crucial to schedule service sooner rather than later. It may be the difference between your heat pump breaking down…or not.
Examples of common red flags that point to heat pump issues include:
- Loud or persistent sounds that aren’t part of normal operation
- Bad odors that are musty, dirty, or smell like something is burning
- Unusual cooling cycles that are too long or too short
- Changes in cooling output like a lack of airflow or air that is lukewarm
Care Tips
Aside from professional maintenance, there are also steps you can take as a homeowner to keep your heat pump working at its best:
- Choose an air filter that is strong enough to prevent a variety of particles from getting into the system without blocking airflow.
- Change out the air filter before it gets too dirty so that your heat pump can always bring in fresh air without blockages.
- Hose off the outdoor unit and remove any debris that has the potential to block airflow leading out
- Turn off your heat pump for a few hours here and there when temperatures are milder so that the system can have a break.
Contact Roberts Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today to schedule your heat pump maintenance appointment as soon as possible.