Heat Pump Tune-Up Service in Muncie, Indiana
Muncie homeowners have a lot to do as winter rolls around and heat pump tune-ups should be at the top of the list. From fall yard cleanup to get ready for the holiday season, there’s plenty to think about. Don’t let that be an excuse to forget all about maintaining your home’s key support systems, though. Fall is the best time to schedule an annual tune-up for home heating systems, including heat pumps.
Despite their comparative novelty, heat pumps have already started gaining popularity in Muncie and the surrounding area. You shouldn’t assume that heat pumps being more common now than they were a few years ago means that just anyone can service them, though. You need a company like Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling. Our techs have received dedicated training in this new technology so they can provide professional heat pump maintenance, repairs, replacements, and new installations.
What is a Heat Pump Tune-Up?
Before moving on to discuss the importance of heat pump annual maintenance, it’s worth pausing for a moment to get everyone on the same page. Because heat pumps are the newest in home heating technologies, there’s still some confusion as to what they are and how they work that needs to be cleared up before we can accurately assess their maintenance needs.
Heat pumps are devices that heat buildings by leveraging the power of thermal energy transfer. They take heat from the outside, then circulate it into the home using an environmentally friendly refrigerant. In some cases, heat pumps also operate as air conditioners in the summer, reversing their cycles and removing hot air from homes instead of adding it.
When to Schedule a Professional Heat Pump Tune-Up
The best time to schedule a professional heat pump tune-up is in the fall before the home heating season begins in earnest. Some professionals recommend more than one annual tune-up, but most find it unnecessary. Manufacturers’ warranties typically stipulate that homeowners schedule one annual tune-up, so unless your system sees an abnormal amount of wear and tear, that’s what we suggest.
Scheduling heat pump annual maintenance in the fall has a few big benefits. For one, it allows homeowners to make sure everything is in good working order before the home heating season begins and to schedule necessary heat pump repairs for a time when they won’t leave families out in the cold. Catching and resolving problems early also reduces the risk of winding up with expensive emergency repair bills on your plate.
If you rely on the heat pump for keeping your home cool in the summer as well as warm in the winter, there’s a second compelling reason to schedule heat pump maintenance in the fall. During this visit, our techs will be able to evaluate the system to make sure it didn’t sustain any significant wear and tear due to summer use.
What to Expect During a Tune-Up
Our heating specialists have ample training in how heat pumps work and what kinds of maintenance they typically need, so they’ll be able to get started as soon as they arrive at your home. The first thing they’ll do is to perform a thorough inspection of the system to look for minor problems that could turn into heating disasters if left unaddressed. If possible, they’ll deal with those issues during the same visit after they:
- Lubricate mechanical components
- Clear obstructions from condensate drains
- Check the drain pan and indoor coil
- Flush and clean the drain line
- Check line pressure and system discharge
- Verify refrigerant levels and repair leaks
- Initiate defrost cycles to check the sequence
- Inspect electrical connections, tightening connections and replacing damaged wires as needed
- Clean the blower wheel and check for balance
- Lubricate motors and bearings as needed
- Check belts and pulleys for alignment issues and signs of wear
- Verify correct controls
- Test thermostat operation
- Inspect the outdoor condensing unit
- Verify that outdoor temperature sensors are placed properly
- Inspect ducts for dirt, clogs, and leaks
If your current heating technician doesn’t seem to be doing as thorough of a job as the checklist above describes, it’s time to switch to a company that really cares. The experts at Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling will never cut corners when it comes to our customers’ comfort, safety, or satisfaction.
At-Home Maintenance for Between Tune-Ups
While DIY maintenance won’t ever replace the need for an annual tune-up, it can help to keep everything in working order. Homeowners can check air filters, remove foliage and ice or snow buildup from the outside unit, keep registers open, clean outside coils as needed, and make sure the thermostat stays set above 65 degrees.
Call to Schedule a Maintenance Visit
Is it time to schedule your next heat pump tune-up? If so, give Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling a call at (765) 444-6175. Our dedicated team will be happy to provide heat pump annual maintenance services and any repairs required to get your unit back into optimal condition before the temperatures start to drop.
