A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that uses refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. The most common heat pumps are air-source models, which transfer heat between the inside and outside air. In warm weather, heat pumps divert the heat from inside your home to outdoors. In cold weather, they do the opposite. While they’re an extremely efficient way to heat or cool a building, you can’t expect a heat pump to last its expected service life of 15 years or more unless regular maintenance is conducted.
A geothermal heat pump is another variety that’s becoming increasingly popular. For heating, it draws heat energy from several feet underground where the temperatures stay moderate year round, and brings it inside. In the summer, it rejects heat from the home back into the ground.
The average life expectancy of an air-source heat pump is 15 years, while geothermal models, which don’t use an outside condenser/compressor, can last as long as 25. For each type, however, regular maintenance has a huge effect on the heat pump’s eventual service life. Other important factors include your climate – a heat pump that works hard in both summer and winter likely will begin declining sooner than one that has an easier job in a mild climate. The good news is there are some steps you can take to help extend your heat pump’s service life. For example:
- During the winter months, check your air-source heat pump’s outdoor coil for ice. Frost or ice can build up on the outdoor coil, which affects the pump’s ability to provide heat.
- Replace or clean the heat pump’s air filter monthly during the heavy use seasons, or according to the heat pump manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Clean the fins on the outside condenser/compressor at least once each season to remove dirt, dust and other debris.
- Keep weeds, flowers and grass a minimum of 18 inches away from the outdoor unit of an air-source heat pump to ensure proper airflow and prevent debris from falling into the unit.
Air source heat pumps are most effective at heating when winter temperatures aren’t extreme. During periods of prolonged subfreezing weather, the heat pump will fall back on its emergency electric heating element (or gas furnace in a dual-fuel system) for supplemental heat.
To learn more about heat pumps, contact our pros at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve provided quality HVAC services for homeowners in Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin for more than 30 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area