An air-source heat pump can be a highly efficient way to cool and heat your home, especially here in the Las Vegas and Southern California regions. But like any other home comfort system, a heat pump requires maintenance and can develop performance issues if it’s not properly tended. It’s important to avoid these three issues:
Low airflow
Your heat pump airflow should be 400 to 500 cubic feet per minute for each ton of cooling capacity. Cooling performance deteriorates dramatically if airflow falls below 350 cubic feet per minute. Your technician can increase the airflow by cleaning the evaporator coil or boosting the fan speed.
Problem ductwork
Leaky ducts can significantly affect the performance of your heat pump. Loose connections, along with holes and tears in the ducts can allow particulate matter such as dust and dander to enter the airstream going through your system. This accelerates dirt buildup on the filter — and even the heat pump’s components if you don’t change the filter regularly. Further, conditioned air can leak from your compromised ducts, causing your system to work harder to deliver the amount of conditioned air that you require.
Although you can seal some of your ductwork yourself, using mastic adhesive and mesh, you will probably want your contractor to seal the hard-to-reach ductwork. At the same time, consider insulating your ductwork, especially the segments running through unconditioned spaces such as the attic, crawl space or basement, to boost your energy efficiency even more.
Incorrect refrigerant charge
The refrigerant charge in your heat pump should be checked when your unit is installed and each time it’s serviced. Your technician should do this after checking the airflow. Too much or too little refrigerant can dramatically affect your system’s performance. The correct charge, on the other hand, can help to ensure that your system’s performance matches the energy efficiency ratings specified when you purchased the unit. Verify that the refrigerant charge is correct each time you have your unit serviced.
For more expert advice about proper care for your heat pump and other issues related to home comfort, contact a contractor in the AC Pro network.
Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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