Tidying Up The Yard? Tend To Your Heat Pump While You're At It

It’s yard-work season again. Now that it’s time to go outdoors and keep your lawn and outside spaces clean, it’s also a good time to devote some attention to maintaining your outdoor HVAC equipment. Performing a few cleaning and maintenance tasks on your heat pump will help keep it operating at peak efficiency all summer long.

Clean the unit
Clean the exterior of the unit’s cabinet with a mild detergent and soft cloth. Clean as far inside the unit as you can, removing accumulations of grass, sticks, leaves, insect or animal nests, and other obstructions. Make sure the vents on all sides of the unit are clear of blockages and that the top of the unit is clear. Trim away vegetation such as shrubs, grass, trees and plants to provide plenty of clearance for airflow on all sides of the unit.

Change the filter
Changing the filter in your cooling system is a simple but critical component of preventive maintenance. Check filters monthly and change or clean them if dirty or clogged.
• Glass fiber filters: These filters are intended to be thrown away when they get dirty, so change them when needed or about every three months..
• Plastic fiber or foam filters: Vacuum these filters clean and reinstall.
• Aluminum mesh filters: Clean these filters with mild detergent and water. Reapply the adhesive coating that catches dirt and other particles, then reinstall.

Protect the cabinet
Apply a coat of car wax to the outside of the cabinet. This wax will help keep the cabinet’s exterior in good shape, will protect it from rain and sun damage, and will keep the unit looking bright and well cared for. Don’t let lawn sprinkler systems spray directly on the cabinet; long-term exposure to water can cause rust, and chemicals in some lawn watering systems can cause corrosion.

Since 1976, Comfort Services has provided residential and commercial heating and air conditioning services to customers in Columbia and the surrounding area. Contact us today for information on maintaining heat pumps and suggestions for some simple and easy self-maintenance tasks that will keep your heat pump working well throughout the season.