Like a central air conditioner, a heat pump also has an outer unit. Like any other HVAC system and its components, this outer portion of the heat pump also need regular maintenance and repair. While the inside unit is rather simple to maintain, the outer side is much more difficult since it is not that accessible. To help you with the outdoor Heat Pump maintenance and repair, I decided to share some pointers.

Tip 1 – Clean the Compressor and Coil regularly

The outer unit of a heat pump consists of several intricate components. Each component has its own significance in the overall process of heating. However, the compressor and the coil is perhaps the most important among all and that’s why they need to be cleaned and maintained regularly.

You can do this by taking the outer part apart and cleaning with proper tools. Make sure to get rid of both the greasy substance as well as the dirt and debris.

Tip 2 – Wipe the fans and get rid of molds or dust and debris

Fans are another integral part of any heating and cooling system. Like any other heating and air conditioning system, the heat pumps use a fan to blow the heated or cold air.

Since the heat pump cannot be operated without this fan, it is important that you take good care of the fan. And by taking care of the fan, I mean cleaning and wiping the fans every once in a while.

Note that often times the fan can be infested by molds. So you need to take care of the molds and the dirt debris all at once.

Tip 3 – You can use vacuum cleaners

Sometimes wiping or blowing air to the components especially the fan is not enough. The big chunks or the extremely tiny particle are hard to get with a wipe so in that case, your vacuum cleaner will come in handy.

When you can’t get the tiny particles with wiping or blowing, put the vacuum cleaner in between the fans and suck out those particles.

Tip 4 – Check the pipe insulation

Pipe insulation is very important and sometimes the insulation can be compromised. When this happens, both you and your HVAC system, more particularly the heat pump is at danger. So, you need to attend to the compromised insulation and if the condition is even worse, you might need to change the insulation entirely.

Tip 5 – Balance and Adjust the heat pump

Toward the start of each heating season, set one carpenters' level over the actual highest point of the metal cabinet & then check the level from front to back and from side to side. In the event that the unit is never again level on the pad, you need to lift the pad back to level by slowing prying it up with the pry bar or a bit of 2-by-4. Develop the ground under it with rock or crushed stone.

Tip 6 – Don’t forget to do the air duct cleaning

When you go with the outdoor air conditioner services and repair, you should also get the air duct cleaning done because you might not even remember to do that later.

Tip 7 – Call HVAC experts if you are having trouble  

Lastly, not every outdoor heat pump maintenance and repair situation can be handled by everyone. That’s why it is best if you can call on HVAC experts when something goes over your head. Don’t try to be the smart guy who tries to be the all-knower and end up with a broken AC.

But before you call HVAC specialists, you should know how the heat pumps works. It will help you better understand the AC repair situations.

How does a heat pump work?

Basically, it works like a refrigerator. That means, in general, it has a refrigerant-like substance that collects heat and turns into liquid from the gas. Then it releases the heat and turns into a gas. The heat pumps can also reverse the cycle.

In summer, a heat pump collects heat from a high-temperature area and then exert that heat into the outside air, just like a central air conditioner. But in the winter, it reverses the cycle. Then these heat pumps take the amount of heat from the outside air and push that heat into your house.

The heat pumps mainly have two primary sources from where they extract the heat. These sources are ground and air. According to the sources, these heat pumps are named. Heat pumps that use air are called Air-Source Heat Pumps and the ones that use the ground, are called Ground-Source Hear Pumps and sometimes Geothermal Heat Pumps.

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