If you’re in the market for a new heating and cooling system for your Birmingham, AL home, you might have considered a heat pump. Heat pumps can both heat and cool your home with one unit and are better at dehumidifying that an air conditioner. But before you invest in a heat pump, you want to have all your facts straight including what to expect for maintenance, installation, and energy bills for your heat pump.
Douglas Cooling & Heating can answer these questions along with what maintenance needs to be done on a heat pump to keep your home comfortable in every season.
Why Should I Install A Heat Pump?
Heat pumps are incredibly energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that can replace your current HVAC system, or be installed in your newly constructed home. Many homes in Birmingham have heat pumps installed already. Heat pumps are capable of cooling your home in the summer and heating it in the winter. However, since these systems work year-round, they don’t tend to last as long as a traditional HVAC system composed of an air conditioner and a furnace. The average life expectancy of a heat pump is 10-15 years.
Heat pumps are also more expensive than a traditional HVAC system, but they are much more energy efficient. Heat pumps do not rely on natural gas and only need electricity to make your home comfortable. Because of their efficiency, many homeowners notice a drastic increase in savings on energy bills when they make the switch from a furnace and air conditioner to a heat pump
I’ve Heard Heat Pumps Need More Maintenance, Is That True?
Heat pumps need to be serviced twice a year, once in the spring before the cooling season starts and again in the winter before the heating season starts. Your technician will clean your system and make sure your reversing valve is working properly to ensure that your system will be able to make your home comfortable as the season changes.
Now you might think that a heat pump might not be worth investing in since it requires more service, however when you compare a heat pump to a traditional HVAC system that’s composed of an air conditioner and a furnace, the maintenance works out to be the same. A furnace and an air conditioner also need to be serviced once a year. When you do the math, you can have two systems, each serviced once a year or one system that needs service twice a year. In the end, you’ll require the same amount of maintenance.
What Services Are Done During Heat Pump Maintenance?
When you call Douglas Cooling & Heating for heat pump maintenance, your technician will:
- Change the air filter as needed. Check the filter manufacturer’s recommendation for frequency while considering special factors about your home that may increase the frequency of changes, such as pets or smoking in the home.
- Keep exterior coils clean year-round. Cut off power to the unit and use a hose to clear away dirt.
- Keep vegetation at least 24 inches back from your heat pump to allow for proper airflow.
- Never store items around your exterior heat pump. This includes patio furniture, lawn tools, and outdoor toys.
- Remove snow and ice from your unit’s exterior in the winter. This prevents damage and allows air to flow freely to the unit.
- Flush the unit’s condensate pan and drain to eliminate clogs that could cause mold growth and water damage to the surrounding areas.
Make Heat Pump Maintenance Easy By Joining Our 24/7 Club
Remembering to schedule HVAC Maintenance can be a difficult task. Douglas Cooling & Heating helps by providing a service plan that can help make sure you never miss an appointment again. When you sign up for the 24/7 Club Membership, we’ll call you to make a heat pump service appointment around your schedule. Membership also includes benefits like a plumbing maintenance appointment, discounts on repairs and new units, and priority service. Contact us today to sign up.
Talk to Douglas Cooling & Heating To Learn More About Heat Pumps
Whether you’re looking to have a heat pump installed, or need someone who can repair your unit, you can trust the experienced technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating. We have years of experience serving homes and businesses in the Birmingham area with all their HVAC needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
