Regular HVAC maintenance is key to a healthy heat pump. It helps prevent sudden breakdowns and keeps your home comfortable year-round. Nowhere is maintenance more important than when you have a heat pump. Heat pumps cool and heat your space, so they operate almost nonstop through every season. Because of this, they see more use than a traditional air conditioning system and need consistent care to keep up with demand.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long To Schedule Heat Pump Maintenance?
Delaying heat pump maintenance can lead to problems that hurt your comfort and cost you money. Without regular service, your heat pump’s heating and cooling performance will decline over time, often taking much longer to reach the set temperature on your thermostat.
Sometimes, the drop in performance is most noticeable on extreme weather days, but in many cases, the system may run constantly and still struggle to keep your house comfortable. Poor performance also equates to lower efficiency, which means higher energy bills for heating and cooling.
Neglecting your heat pump also raises the risk of frequent breakdowns. Most heat pumps will need repairs occasionally, but regular maintenance can reduce those repair needs and help prevent major issues that lead to expensive service calls.
Over the long term, skipping maintenance can shorten your heat pump’s lifespan. A well-maintained system can last 12–15 years, while neglected units often need replacement much sooner—sometimes in less than 10 years.
Another risk is losing warranty protection. Many manufacturers require proof of regular maintenance to honor their warranties. Skipping professional service could put your coverage at risk. Since a heat pump works year-round, scheduling tune-ups twice a year is the best way to protect both your system and your warranty.
Is There a Best Time for Heat Pump Maintenance?
If it’s been a while since your last appointment, there’s no wrong time to schedule. Ideally, your heat pump should be serviced twice a year—once before cooling season and again before heating season.
In the Cleveland area, that means booking your first appointment in late April to early June and your second one in September or early October. This timing ensures your system is in top shape before the weather requires it to run nonstop.
What Does Heat Pump Maintenance Entail?
During maintenance, a technician inspects, cleans, and tests your system to catch small issues before they become big problems. Common tasks include:
- Checking and tightening electrical connections, capacitors, and relays
- Inspecting the reversing valve to ensure proper switching between heating and cooling
- Cleaning coils, the condenser unit, and the air handler
- Testing the thermostat for accuracy
- Checking refrigerant levels and ensuring there are no leaks
- Lubricating moving parts and checking motors for proper operation
These steps reduce strain on the system, improve efficiency, and lower the chance of sudden failures. If your technician finds a more serious problem, you’ll have time to schedule a heat pump replacement before the unit fails.
Since 1936, P.K. Wadsworth has been the most trusted name for home comfort in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. We provide timely service, upfront pricing, and a satisfaction guarantee. Our experts can handle all your heat pump needs. Contact us today to schedule your maintenance and get ahead of seasonal changes.
