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When properly looked after, an air source heat pump could last you for as long as 25 years, with some stretching on as long as 50! How can you help your heat pump last as long as possible?

Because of how heat pumps are made, they don’t have many parts that can fail. That means they require a lot less maintenance compared to other sources of heating. However, good maintenance habits will ensure your pump isn’t under much strain, massively improving its efficiency.

The most common breakage in a heat pump is its compressor because this part is being used more or less constantly when the pump is being used. Think of it as the heart of your heat pump. These can be a little expensive to replace, (although less so when compared to the costly heating gas boilers tend to need more regularly) but with good maintenance you reduce the risk of this happening.

Clean The Filters

The easiest way to look after your air source heat pump is to check and clean its air filters! This is an easy job that anyone can do, just set aside a little time every now and then and you’ll really help your heat pump. Here’s how to do it:

1. Ensure the heat pump is fully turned off.
2. Remove the front panel of your unit.
3. Remove the air filter and clean with a small brush or vacuum with a brush attachment. Avoid using water.
4. Slide the filter into place and replace the front panel.

That’s really it!

On top of this, you can also do a few quick checks for yourself, such as ensuring that there’s no debris (like leaves) blocking airflow. You can also give your fan blades a quick clean. All these minor checks will minimise the chance that your heat pump is under unnecessary strain, helping reduce the risk of breakages.

During the winter, make sure to make use of the defrost setting to prevent the unit from getting iced over, which can stop it from working properly.

These tasks will help you troubleshoot minor problems, meaning you can take care of them before they become bigger and reducing the likelihood you’ll need to call a professional for a potentially expensive emergency repair.

Professional Maintenance

In addition to these minor maintenance tasks, there’s one thing you can do to ensure your heat pump is working to the best of its ability and that’s having it serviced by a qualified professional. They can perform a full audit to make sure everything is working as intended, giving you total peace of mind.

These checks will include:

• Check Ducts For Leakage
• Measure airflow
• Clean drain pipes
• Check refrigerant levels (and pressure)
• Check electrical contacts
• Check moving belts for damage, and lubricate them if necessary.
• Check and test the thermostat

Your technician will then be able to advise you on any future maintenance tasks as well as any immediate repairs. They’ll be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to keep your own heat pump working happily for years to come.

As a rule of thumb, we’d recommend having your heat pump serviced about once a year. Typically, this will cost between £150-200 pounds, which should be the only maintenance cost your pump will incur annually.

Take care of your air source heat pump, and it will take care of you! These little jobs are simple enough to handle and will keep your heat pump operating efficiently and effectively for years to come, with minimal risk of breakages.

Get in touch with us if you want to learn more! You can either give us a ring on 0116 321 4124 or send us an email to sales@suryaheating.co.uk.

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