Before you switch the thermostat to heat, it’s a good idea to schedule a tuneup for your heat pump. These appliances need annual servicing to operate most efficiently. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that conditioning your home takes up to half of what you spend for energy. Professional maintenance for your heat pump assures you that you’ve done everything you can to keep your bills lower this heating season.

While you should do some routine maintenance throughout the heating or cooling season yourself, some of the tasks have to be done by a professional who has the specialized training and equipment to execute the following:

• Check the ductwork in your home. Loose ducts or leaks can cost you up to 30 percent more on your conditioning bills. Leaks also lower the quality of air inside your home.
• Measure the airflow going through the air handler and adjusts the motor speed if it’s too high or low.
• Test the refrigerant pressure. If it’s too low, the technician will look for leaks before adding more.
• Inspect all the electrical connections, clean them and apply nonconductive lubricants.
• Lubricate the motors and verify that the fan belts are in good conditioning, including tightening when necessary.
• Test the thermostat and calibrate it.
• Make sure that the cooling function is shut out. 

Maintenance, like keeping the air filter clean and keeping vegetation away from the outdoor condenser, is something that most homeowners can do on their own to keep the heat pump working well. The air filter is one of the most important parts in these systems and checking it monthly also helps the appliance run more efficiently and use less electricity.

If you would like more information about heat pump maintenance, contact Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. We provide HVAC services to Asheville and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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