Heat pumps are very similar to air conditioners in most ways. They operate on the same principle of absorbing heat in one location and moving it to another to be released. But there are some distinct differences.
Heat pumps and air conditioners do have some slightly different components and some slightly different maintenance needs. Read on for the details!
Moving Heat
This principle of moving heat is how the heat pump can warm your home so efficiently. By reversing the flow of refrigerant, it can either carry heat out of your home like an air conditioner or carry it into your home. This means it doesn’t have to do the energy-intensive work of actually generating heat, like a furnace does. It also means it has a unique component to accomplish this.
The Reversing Valve
This component uses a slider to control which openings the refrigerant can flow through, which determines which way it will move through the system. The slider moves thanks to pressure from a solenoid, an electromagnet that pushes the slider into the cooling position when it receives power and releases it to slide into the heating position when it stops receiving that charge.
This means that if something interrupts power to that slider—a miscalibrated thermostat, a faulty wire, or a failed solenoid—the heat pump will be stuck in heating mode. If this happens to you, get repairs right away! It’s completely fixable. But this amazing reversing valve has another important impact on your heat pump’s needs.
Year-Round Operation
Because your heat pump can both cool and heat your home, it gets a lot more use than a simple air conditioner. In fact, depending on your needs and how well-insulated your home is, a heat pump could provide most or all of the heating you need, all winter long! That means it’s getting a lot more wear and tear than an appliance that’s only in use for one season each year.
More air passes through, causing more buildup of dust and mess. More grit works its way between components. More lubricant is worn away by more movement. More vibration over more time means more risk of screws loosening or components slipping out of position. More time spent turning on and off means more strain on the compressor. This means more maintenance is necessary!
An appliance that’s only in use for one season only requires maintenance once a year. Generally, people have their heating system maintenance done in the early fall, before they need their heat in the cooling weather. And they have their AC maintenance done in the spring, before turning the air conditioning on for the summer. This ensures that each system is in top condition just when it’s needed most.
Since your heat pump is providing both functions, and working all year round, it needs to be treated as though it is both systems. That means investing in spring maintenance before you use it for cooling your home, and fall maintenance before you use it for heating your home. But don’t be too concerned about the exact timing: the most important thing is to get maintenance twice a year.
Whether you missed the springtime window and need service now, or you’re planning ahead for fall, we’d be delighted to help you with heat pump maintenance in Washington, DC.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you have about your heat pump.
Whether you require installation, repair, or maintenance, our technicians will assist you with top-quality service at any time of the day or night. Take comfort in knowing your indoor air quality is the best it can be with MOE heating & cooling services Ontario's solution for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation that’s cooler than the rest.
Contact us to schedule a visit. Our qualified team of technicians, are always ready to help you and guide you for heating and cooling issues. Weather you want to replace an old furnace or install a brand new air conditioner, we are here to help you. Our main office is at Kitchener but we can service most of Ontario's cities
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