Care & Maintenance

These guides are about keeping a system running so that it does not break in the first cold week. They explain what is normal in winter, such as steam from a heat pump during defrost, and what is not.

Most of the care is simple: one service visit a year, a ducted system filter changed every 3 to 4 months, and the outdoor unit kept clear of leaves, dirt and branches. On ductless mini-splits each indoor unit has its own washable filter, rinsed every 1 to 2 months.

When you want us to do it, a one-time tune-up is $200 and maintenance plans start at $149 a year. The guides also show what a dirty coil looks like on a real job, and why it cuts the heat a system can deliver.

What the guide covers

Heat pump winter maintenance explains what is normal in winter (steam from the outdoor unit, short pauses in warm air, long run times) and what is not, what you can do between visits, what a maintenance visit covers, and a ten minute check before the first cold week. There is a section for mini-split owners on the indoor side, and one for dual fuel systems.

Three things not to do

• Do not cover the outdoor unit while the heat pump is running.
• Do not wash the coil with a pressure washer: high pressure bends the fins. Clear leaves by hand, with the system switched off at the thermostat.
• Do not do the coil washing, refrigerant checks or electrical work yourself: leave them to a technician.