Although heat pumps have been around for a while, they’ve surged in popularity over the last several years. And so it’s understandable that many homeowners who own a heat pump have no idea that maintenance is supposed to happen twice a year. That’s because traditional central systems such as furnaces and air conditioners only need maintenance once a year.
The confusion is compounded by the fact that we live in Arizona where the cooling season is much longer than the heating season. Getting maintenance on a heat pump “every six months” makes perfect sense in areas that experience a new season every 3 months.
Most areas of the country run a heat pump for heat for half the year, and for cooling the other half of the year. That’s certainly not true here where the October temperatures have been in the 90s!
However, it’s because the cooling season can run for the majority of the year that bi-annual heat pump maintenance is so important. The recommendation for tune-ups every 6 months is because that’s when systems in most parts of the country are experiencing downtime. Your heat pump in Phoenix has a lot less downtime.
That means getting regular heat pump tune-ups is even more crucial here than just about anywhere else. The last thing you want is to find yourself without a working heat pump on a fall day when the forecast calls for high temperatures.
So when should I schedule maintenance in Arizona?
The recommendation for spring and fall still applies. However, “fall” might be a time when you’re still using your heat pump for cooling. The best thing to do is to schedule maintenance about six months after your previous maintenance appointment. Keeping track on a calendar and setting reminders is the best way to remember when it’s time.
What happens if I skip heat pump maintenance?
- Increased likelihood of a breakdown: Heat pumps that don’t receive twice-a-year tune-ups are more likely to need repairs or even worse, break down entirely. In fact, most of the repair calls we get are on heat pumps that haven’t had regular maintenance.
- Decreased home comfort. A tune-up is an opportunity for our technicians to boost your heat pump’s performance. Without this crucial maintenance, you can expect lackluster and uneven cooling that’ll leave you frustrated on hot days. You’ll also see higher utility bills as your heat pump struggles to perform.
- An early replacement. Heat pumps should last 10-15 years but that estimate only applies to systems that have received regular maintenance. Don’t risk needing an early replacement by foregoing maintenance.
- Voids the warranty: Is your heat pump under warranty? One of the stipulations of the warrant is that your system will receive bi-annual maintenance.
We hope we’ve convinced you of the importance of bi-annual heat pump maintenance. Call us now to schedule this essential service.
Contact the team at AZ Perfect Comfort for heat pump maintenance in Phoenix, AZ and Feel the Comfort You’ve Been Missing.