Heat Pump Servicing and Performance Checks

A heat pump works hardest through the winter, and a yearly service keeps it heating your home efficiently and catches small problems before they turn into a breakdown. Most manufacturers also ask for an annual service to keep the warranty valid, so check your paperwork and book one each year. On a service visit we start outside. The outdoor unit's coil and fan are cleaned and checked for damage, leaves and debris are cleared from around it, and the condensate drain is checked so meltwater from the defrost cycle can get away. Inside, we clean the system filter or strainer, check the system pressure and the expansion vessel, look over the pipework, insulation and electrical connections, and check the hot-water cylinder and its safety controls. A performance check looks at how the system is actually running, not just whether it switches on. We read the flow and return temperatures, look at the running and fault history on the controller, and review the weather compensation curve, the heating schedule and the hot-water settings. Many heat pumps end up running like a boiler, at high temperatures in short bursts, which costs more and leaves rooms uneven. Small changes to the settings are often enough to make the house more comfortable and bring the bills down. After the visit you get a plain explanation of what we found, anything that needs attention and how urgent it is. If a part has failed, you get a price for the repair first. We service existing heat pumps as well as the systems we install. Gareth's TrustATrader review mentions Andrew coming out to do an annual service on his heat pump at a price that was competitive with other companies.