Professional Heat Pump System Services
A heat pump system needs a tune-up twice a year. Our customers should schedule cooling maintenance in the spring and heating maintenance in the fall. That approach will lower operating costs, extend the system’s lifespan, and help avoid repairs. Even with proper maintenance, more serious issues can occur over time. Increased electricity consumption is often among the earliest signs of a problem. That’s why we recommend tracking your energy usage by month and year. You should also monitor how your system cycles. Typical heat pumps cycle two or three times an hour for 10 to 15 minutes. Short cycling is often an indication of overheating or a refrigerant leak. Long cycling typically suggests a problem with a thermostat or control board.
If replacing a heat pump system or installing one for the first time, accurate sizing is crucial. An optimal capacity will result in lower costs in the short term and over the long term. To size your unit, an installer will perform a load calculation, such as the ACCA Manual J approach. The next step is to consider energy efficiency. The industry uses SEER to measure cooling efficiency and HSPF to measure heating efficiency. In both cases, the higher the rating, the more efficient the system. You may have to pay more to install a high-efficiency system. That said, it can be worth it due to energy incentives and smaller heating and cooling bills.