When working as intended, your heat pump is an efficient way to cool down during hot summer days and warm up when the weather gets chilly. However, it’s not something that you can leave alone for a long period of time and expect to always operate at the same level of efficiency.
Regularly cleaning your system will ensure that it works well and that your indoor air quality is high – e.g. any disbursement of dust and mold throughout your home and breathed in by you and others is eliminated. That said, there are moments that require more urgent measures to be taken.
How Does Your Heat Pump Work?
First, it’s important to understand how your heat pump works. Essentially, it absorbs heat from the air or other sources and transports it to a different area. During the summer, this system removes hot interior air and sends it outside. Conversely, when the weather’s chilly, it takes the warmer elements of the mostly cold air that’s outside and brings it into your home. With some systems, it may extract heat from the ground or a water source and bring that in.
Signs That Cleaning Is Necessary
So, how do you know if your heat pump needs to be cleaned right away? Here are a few common signs.
It’s Been a Year or Two
Regardless of everything else, if it’s been a year or two since you’ve had professionals do a deep clean of your system, you should get that handled now. Many experts recommend that this be done on an annual basis in order to effectively ward off regular wear-and-tear and more substantial issues.
Also note that you should clean your filters on a proactive basis about once a month, potentially more often if you have pets or a vent in or near your kitchen. To do this, turn your system off, remove the filters, wash and rinse them if they’re sticky and vacuum any dust off of them.
It’s Not Cooling or Heating Like It Used To
Is your system not cooling or heating like it used to? Perhaps the overall airflow is still steady but not as strong as had been the case before. In these circumstances, you may have dirty air filters that need to be cleaned.
Or maybe your unit is cooling and heating in a much more uneven manner than used to occur. For example, perhaps your home had previously been comfortable throughout, but now there are areas that get too hot or too cold. If that’s the case, something could be clogging up the system somewhere between your home’s interior and outside.
Considerable Increase in Power Bills
If the weather outside and your comfort level inside are similar to a year ago at this time but that’s accompanied by much higher power bills, it’s possible that something needs to be cleaned. This occurrence could be the result of clogged air filters that now have hair, dust or pollen hampering their effectiveness while refrigerant leaks or other issues could be causing these increased energy costs instead.
Mold or Mildew Growth
If a musty odor has started taking over your home, mold or mildew may have grown in your heat pump system and is negatively affecting it. This occurrence can directly affect your air filters, but it’s also possible that mold or mildew has grown elsewhere in your system. Regardless, it must be cleaned out, not only to ensure that things are running smoothly again but also so that you are no longer breathing it in.
Burning Smell
A burning smell is a significant cause for concern. This usually results from an electrical issue or overheating, both of which could be caused by something that requires cleaning to fix. Regardless, this is not something that you should treat as a DIY project as doing so can be dangerous and could void warranties.
Strange Noises
If you’re hearing rattling, grinding or squealing noises coming from your heat pump, you should take immediate action. Although this type of issue could indicate a damaged motor or control board, it’s also possible that the noise is instead the result of something getting into a fan and simply needing to be removed.
Visible Debris
Of course, if you see debris coming out of your unit or mold in or near it, that’s one of the most obvious signs that something needs to be cleaned right away.
Ice on the Outdoor Unit
If there’s ice buildup on the outdoor unit as a result of an exceptional cold snap here in Birmingham, you should clean it off. In most cases, using a hose to gradually melt it with warmer water is the best method.
Regardless of the weather conditions, ensure that the area is free of leaves and anything else that may hamper your system’s effectiveness. Do so carefully so that you don’t unintentionally damage it.
Water Where It Shouldn’t Be
Excess water coming from your heat pump is a notable indication that it needs to be attended to as neglecting to in these circumstances could lead to substantial issues, such as water damage and mold growth. Perhaps something serious has already resulted from that water.
One Hour Birmingham’s Ready To Help
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating is here, ready to help with the cleaning of your heat pump and any other issues that you’re having with it or to take preventative measures. In addition, we’re glad to install a system if you don’t have one yet or know of someone who would like one.
Our technicians also take to heart our promise that we’re on time or you don’t pay a dime. We know how valuable your time is, and we want to make this experience as easy and efficient of one as possible.
If you’d like to speak with us about our services, which we offer throughout the Birmingham, AL, metropolitan area, give us a call or send us a message through our website. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
