Heat pump preventative maintenance

[RalphInCA]

Just had a heat pump installed.

Big believer in preventative maintenance to ensure reliability and efficiency, long-term.

I know I can contract with the HVAC contractor for this but I’m DIYer. And I’m cheap.

Suggestions on preventative maintenance that I can do myself? Or does the guy who comes out have some sort of special magic that I need to pay for?

 

[jshillin]

Most manufacturers require you to have a certified HVAC Tech out at least once a year for your warranty.

 

[RalphInCA]

Most manufacturers require you to have a certified HVAC Tech out at least once a year for your warranty.

Hmmm. Will have to check this out. I know we have the first year of maintenance included in the original installation cost.

Not sure what happens after that. Need to find out.

 

[jshillin]

Hmmm. Will have to check this out. I know we have the first year of maintenance included in the original installation cost.

Not sure what happens after that. Need to find out.

I pay about $90 for them to come out once per year to check both inside and outside units, clean the coils, etc.

 

[RalphInCA]

I pay about $90 for them to come out once per year to check both inside and outside units, clean the coils, etc.

Thanks. Is that all they do? I can do that stuff myself.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Most manufacturers require you to have a certified HVAC Tech out at least once a year for your warranty."

Substitute the word most with some. Most do require yearly cleaning by a pro or you, which is reasonable.

As to maintenance, clean the coils with a neutral PH cleaner. Verify the PH of the cleaner you are buying, as some are acid or alkaline, even though stating they are safe for cleaning coils. Actually most wood floor cleaners are PH neutral. High or low PH etch (eat) aluminum fins. Once etched the fins collect dirt more easily. Once a year you should clean the fan blades and make sure rodents etc are not making a condo out of the unit

 

[fitter30]

The outside unit might have a split coil where it's two coils sandwiched together and they get dirty between the two. I don't believe in coil cleaner if it's just dirt. You tube videos will have some how to clean them. Beginning of the season Turn off the breaker for outside unit open disconnect check connections. Unit open electrical same thing.

 

[P0234]

Just do like the pros, splash a little soap on the outside coil, maybe take a piss on it then rinse with a little hose water. If anyone is actually watching, take the fan off, maybe open the back panel, make some noise with your impact driver, maybe loosen a wire just a little so you get a new service call. Once the coil is older shake the **** out of it to see if you can get any leaks to form (slowly of course).

Jokes aside, just wash the coil, take off the back panel to make sure rodents/bugs aren't in there, verify the status lights are happy. I also take the temperature difference between the intake and registers to note system performance (do this on a similar weather day each time).

 

[pcmeiners]

I notice manufacturers are finally getting wise and installing bug/rodent sealed control areas in the outside units.... how many decades has it taken? How many mouse pissed destroyed control boards did this take?

Before you piss on the coils make sure your urine is neutral PH, test with a litmus strip.

 

[RalphInCA]

I notice manufacturers are finally getting wise and installing bug/rodent sealed control areas in the outside units.... how many decades has it taken? How many mouse pissed destroyed control boards did this take?

Before you piss on the coils make sure your urine is neutral PH, test with a litmus strip.

Good comment. We have lots of wasps here. We’ll have to watch that they don’t build in there.

 

[Jim greengo]

Same thing I tell people when I install an ac:
Rinse off condensing unit when ever you mow your grass,keep furnace filter changed.
And call me if you have a problem.
The days of new equipment lasting 30 plus are here and gone,heat pumps tend to last about 1/2 as long as an ac here in nebraska anyway.
But if people just did the basics ,that definitely helps them live longer.
As far as having to have it serviced by a contractor every year,sounds like salesman talk to me.
I've sold/installed/serviced many brands over the years,I've never had issues with getting warrantee parts as long as it was in the warrantee period.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Keep it CLEAN !

Garden hose on the outdoor heat exchanger. Vacuum on the indoor air handler.

 

[ipdaley]

My recommendation:
on the OD unit:

• DISCONNECT power before touching anything
• if you can, pop the top OR remove the fan guard mounting screws and move the fan out of the way. be careful with the fan blades! do not bend them.
• take a garden hose without a nozzle and rinse the OD coil from the inside to the outside (opposite the airflow direction). it is tempting to use a nozzle but you do not want to damage the coil fins.
• avoid any cleaner! these can be caustic and can dissolve fins if left on too long or not rinsed well
• remove any leaves/debris from the base pan

on the indoor coil/air handler/furnace:

• DISCONNECT power before touching anything. if you have an air handler with electric heat, you may need to turn off the circuit breaker to remove power. Please be safe.
• vacuum any dust from controls. use a brush attachment with your vacuum.
• it may not be possible to service the indoor coil without extensive disassembly. depends if you have a A-coil or N-coil. Also depends on where the metering device is (expansion valve or orifice).
• if you keep a clean filter on your system, you may not have any dust/dirt on the indoor coil surfaces. depends on how often you change filters and how old your indoor coil is. Be GENTLE with the coil fins. do not damage them. to prevent a huge mess, I would vacuum the coil slabs. this is the indoor coil. it should look much better than the OD coil.
• if your indoor coil is very dirty or plugged, I would call a pro. they should have the equipment to wash the finned surfaces without damage and to prevent a huge mess

you can save yourself a lot of grief by getting into the habit of changing the inside filter monthly. every time you get an electric bill, let that be your reminder to replace the filter.