If your HVAC system has a heat pump, your maintenance tasks will look a little different than if you had a standard furnace. Like with any appliance, preventative maintenance is the key to efficiency and an extended lifespan. Your HVAC contractor in Ruston, LA can help you identify whether you have a heat pump and what you’ll need to do to keep it in great shape.

Here’s a basic overview of heat pumps and what kind of maintenance they require.

Heat pumps and how to tell if you have one

Heat pumps work similarly to air conditioners. Instead of using fuel to create heat, heat pumps take heat from the outdoor air and pump it inside your home to create warmth. Air conditioners do the same thing in reverse: they take the hot air, cool it by blowing it over condenser coils and then blow it into your home to cool down the space. Hot air and moisture, meanwhile, are pumped outside.

If the air outside isn’t warm enough, heat pumps have electrical heat strips. They warm the air that passes over them as it’s pumped inside your home. This is useful for climates where the temperature drops too low to otherwise heat the air.

The main difference between heat pumps and air conditioners is that the heat pumps do the same job in reverse to heat the home, rather than removing heat and piping it outside.

So, how do you know if you have a heat pump? One way to tell is to go outside and see if the outdoor unit comes on when you run the heat. If so, you have a heat pump. You can also look for the label or serial number and search for that online. Finally, you can always schedule an HVAC tune-up and ask your contractor what kind of system you have.

Heat pump maintenance

Your heat pump (and HVAC system in general) should be tuned up twice per year: once before you’ll start running the heat, and once before it’s time to use the air conditioner. Your contractor will go over your system from top to bottom to check the hardware, controls, ductwork and more. This is particularly useful, as regular maintenance can call attention to problems before they become costly.

As a homeowner, there are a few things you can do to maintain your heat pump. First, make sure you’re changing the filter regularly. Generally, this should be done every 90 days, but if you have allergies or respiratory issues, you should do it every month.

Second, keep your outdoor unit free of debris, grass, plants and clutter. Finally, check the condensate drain periodically—if you notice water around the outdoor unit, there might be a clog in the machinery.

Keeping up on your heat pump maintenance is the best way to ensure you always have a warm home when you need it most. To schedule heating installation in Ruston, LA, call J & B Air Conditioning, Heating, & Gutters today.