Heat Pumps Maintenance- Things to Remember

Regular maintenance and servicing is necessary for every electrical device to ensure optimum operation and Heat pumps are not an exception in this regard. Based on their design and architecture, some pumps demands more maintenance than the others. In this article, we are going to look into the various aspects of heat pumps maintenance that should preferably be followed at least twice every year to keep the pumps in perfect working shape. Systematic pump maintenance can easily be completed in about an hour or so but the quality of maintenance should be good.

      1)- Fan Switch:  First, carefully check the switch of the fan to make sure that the on and auto positions are operating smoothly. The mechanical thermostats mostly have steel balls, which if corroded can lead to an open circuit. Along with this, clean the fan to prevent the heat anticipators from over heating.

      2)- Refrigerant Leaks:  Even the slightest of refrigerant leaks can impair the efficiency of the heat pumps in the long term run. Therefore, while cleaning, check for the presence of patches of oil around the refrigerant lines. Traces of oil anywhere in the body of the pump would indicate a refrigerant leak.

      3)- Voltage and Current Settings: Note down the current and voltage setting of the exterior unit twice- first during start up and later after a few minutes of operation. The lower the fluctuation, the better is your system charge and compressor health.

      4)- Blower Operation: Check the blower operation while washing the indoor unit.  Slow air flow draw or sloth start up indicates a weak capacitor. Moreover, dirty fans can also hinder the normal running of the blowers. At times, improper fan cage have also proven to cause troubles.

      5)- Lockout Circuits: Check the lockout circuits by shorting the control circuit with the exterior unit for a few minutes. If it somehow breaks the lock, it indicates a problem in the circuit which has to be resolved.

      6)- Heat Transfer: As highlighted above, the refrigerant system plays a key role in controlling room temperature. Note down the difference of temperature between the return air stream and supply line in either cooling or heating cycle as and where applicable. Ideally, the difference should be in the range of 5-12 degree Celsius.

      7)- Starting Contactor: Check the contactor coil and points and if you find over heated coils or wretched pitted contacts, it is highly recommended to get them replaced.

      8)- Wash or Replace filters: If the filters are washable, get them washed whereas if they are use and throw filters, try to replace the filters at least 2-3 times in a year.

To conclude, following the aforesaid heat pump maintenance tips from time to time will not only enhance the efficiency and performance of the heat pumps but will also minimize the chances of facing technical troubles with the device in the near future.