Ah summer, with its beautiful, warm weather. Sometimes too warm! When a heat wave hits, your heat pump becomes an invaluable ally. If you want it to keep you cool all summer, it will need regular maintenance. Read on for the steps to follow.
Time required: 2 hours
Difficulty level: High
1. Make sure the heat pump is switched off before inspecting the compressor and external components. To be even safer, shut off the circuit breaker.
2. Clean the filter or change it, depending on the type. You may need to call a specialist to replace it.
3. Check there is enough refrigerant (the fluid that produces cold air) in the heat pump.
4. Wash the outside of the entire appliance (plastic housing, fan, stand, etc.) with a damp cloth and a multi-surface or homemade cleaning product.
5. Check that the connections to the house are still securely attached to the wall and heat pump.
6. Ensure the drain lines are clear of debris.
7. Back in the house, clean the wall-mounted heat pump’s housing, including the retractable vent louvers.
8. After conducting these more technical, non-electronic checks, flip the breaker back on for the heat pump.
9. Turn on the heat pump in air-conditioning mode to check that it is working properly, from inside the house.
10. Leave the heat pump running and go outside to listen to the motor (compressor). Make sure there is nothing obstructing or disrupting its operation.
11. Finally, check if the remote control is working. Change the batteries if needed.
N.B. For a more comprehensive inspection or to fix a complex problem, you should contact the company that installed your heat pump, or a specialized heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor.
Photo: Getty Images/Jmalov
