HEAT PUMP MAINTENANCE
FAQ

Manufacturers recommend that you have your heat pump maintained/cleaned every 12-18 months. In our experience, the frequency of cleaning depends on factors that surround your heat pump. Factors that lead to build up within your heat pump: ​Proximity of heat pump to kitchen or bathroom (humidity and grease leads to fast build up) The number of people and pets in your home (dander, hair, skin particles, etc. in the air leads to build up) Presence of smoke due to smoking or fireplace General cleanliness of your home (a clean, dust-free home with have less build up) ​To see if your heat pump needs to be cleaned, open the lid and shine a flashlight in to inspect the coils and barrel. If you see white spots, dust build up, or mold, it's time to clean your heat pump.

If you find that you have to set the temperature on your heat pump higher (or lower) to reach your desired temperature, there could be one of two reasons for this.  The first is that your heat pump coil is dirty and your heat pump isn't working effectively. When the coil (what cools or heats air) is dirty, the air passing over it does not make the desired temperature change. The dirt essentially insulates the coil. In this case, you are wasting a lot of energy and your heat pump needs to work a lot harder to reach your desired temperature. The second is that your temperature sensor is improperly placed. Make sure that the sensor is in your main living space. Heat rises, so if your heat sensor is downstairs and your heat pump is upstairs, there will be a miscommunication.  To learn more, check out this blog post on reaching your desired temperature.

The short answer is no. Set it and forget it! This can be counter intuitive at first, but heat pumps are most efficient when maintaining a temperature. Turning the temperature down (or up in the Summer) at night or when you're out of the house is NOT recommended. This is a big change for anyone used to baseboard heating. Ductless heat pumps are not designed to quickly raise (or lower) the temperature. Heat pumps are an efficient choice for heating and cooling because of the way they work. They function in a similar manner to your refrigerator (have you ever met a fridge that cools instantly?).  ​If you are trying to change the temperature by 2°C, your heat pump may not be able to keep up with the temperature change. When the heat pump can't product enough heat, it will switch to and electric backup heat source (auxiliary heat) which is expensive to run. ​Maintaining a consistent temperature will save you money in the end!

No! Your heat pump needs access to air to do it's job. Anything that reduces air intake will reduce the efficiency of the heat pump.​​ What you can do, is protect your heat pump from snow and ice falling off the roof or major snow/ice fall by installing a shield. There are many options to purchase a shield or you can build your own. Just be sure to maintain air space around the intake. If your heat pump is close to the ground, be sure to shovel around it and clear any debris.  ​If your heat pump does ice up, most will automatically go into a defrosting mode. While it's doing this, you may feel cooler air come through your indoor unit. This is because it has reversed the system (similar to what it does in the summer) to send heat to the external condenser. If it doesn't come on automatically and there's a build up of ice, consult your manual or call your installer. Do not try to chip the ice, you may damage the unit. Warm water is recommended by manufacturers. Always check with your manual, manufacturer, or installer before conducting maintenance.

If there is a new musty smell in your home, it could be your heat pump. Open the lid of your internal unit to see if the smell may be coming from there. Inspect the inside with a flashlight. If your heat pump is the source of the smell, it's dirty and needs to be professionally cleaned. ​The odor is caused by bacteria or mold spores growing on the internal components of your heat pump. To remediate, it needs to be rinsed, sanitized and treated with mold growth inhibitor.  ​Don't fret, this happens often. It just means that your heat pump needs to be maintained more frequently. ​

There are things you can do do extend the maintenance period of your heat pump. Clean you filters monthly - The internal unit(s) has two filters underneath the hood (casing). Simply lift the hood and gently remove the filters. Gently remove the dust with the brush attachment on your vacuum and wash them with dish soap and warm water. Let fully dry before replacing. Reduce humidity - in the Summer months, try to keep your doors and windows shut as much as possible. Your heat pump will be working against that humidity causing more condensation and higher likelihood of dirt and dust build up.  Keep your fan on - in the Spring and Fall when the temperature is fine or if you're going away for a long period and turning your heat pump off, leave the fan running. This will reduce humidity and dirt and dust build up from inside your unit. Reduce dirt and dust in your home - keep a regular cleaning schedule to reduce dirt, dust, dander, fur, skin particles, etc. from being filtered through your heat pump.

Have you noticed that your eyes are watery or your throat is scratchy? Or your asthma is worse? This could have to do with the air quality in your home. No, your heat pump does NOT bring in air from outside. It recirculates air in your home. In this regular function, heat pumps collect dirt, dust, dander, fur, hair, skin particles, pollen, bacteria, and other allergens.  ​Your heat pump needs to be regularly maintained (professionally cleaned every 12-18 months) to ensure the air quality in your home is not reduced. When clean, heat pumps will actually improve your home's air quality. Be sure to clean the filters monthly (you can do this yourself) to extend the period between cleans.