Heat pumps are a great alternative to traditional home heating and cooling systems like a furnace and air conditioner. One unit can both heat and cool your home. Many customers like heat pumps because they are incredibly energy efficient, don’t burn any fossil fuels, and can be paired with ductless systems to create zoned climate control throughout the home.
If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system and were curious about heat pumps, you may have seen that one major downside is that they need more service than a furnace or air conditioning unit. Heartland Heating, Air, and Plumbing are here to set the record straight about how often a heat pump needs service and why.
Why Heat Pumps Need Service Twice A Year
When you compare a heat pump to a furnace, you will notice that heat pumps will require maintenance twice a year when a furnace only needs to be serviced once. But if you have a furnace and an air conditioner, you’ll know that your air conditioner also should be serviced once a year as well. So you can have two systems, each serviced once a year, or one system that needs service twice a year. In the end, you’ll require the same amount of maintenance.
The reason heat pumps need service twice a year is that they can provide both heat and cooling to a home. You’ll want to have your heat pump serviced once in the fall before you turn your heat on for the first time (just like you would for your furnace) and again in the spring before you turn on your cold air for the first time (just like you would for your air conditioner).
One thing to note about heat pumps is that because they work all year round, they tend to have a shorter lifespan than a furnace and air conditioner. Heat pumps tend to last 10-15 years, while furnaces and air conditioners, on average, have a lifespan of 15-20 years. However, this depends on the system’s usage and how well it is maintained. Heat pumps can last longer than 15 years with proper maintenance and care, while air conditioners and furnaces can last fewer than 15 years if they’ve been neglected. It all depends on how well you care for your HVAC systems.
I Have A Dual Fuel Heat Pump – Do I Still Need Service Twice A Year?
Murphysboro and Carbondale, Illinois, residents are no strangers to extremely cold winter days. Although heat pumps can provide heat in the winter, below a certain temperature, they become inefficient. For that reason, many homes have both a heat pump and a furnace, known as a dual fuel system.
Having a dual heating system is great for those extremely cold days. On chilly fall mornings when you want some heat in your home, you’ll probably rely on your heat pump for heat, and you won’t turn on your furnace just yet. It’s not until the snow falls on the ground and temperatures are lower than 39°F that you’ll want to turn on your furnace. Dual fuel heating systems work in tandem so that no one system is more stressed out than the other. As a result, duel fuel systems tend to last longer, on average 20-25 years.
You’ll still want to have your heat pump serviced twice a year, even if it is a dual fuel system, because you’ll still use it for some heat as temperatures get colder. Your HVAC technician can also service your furnace during your fall HVAC maintenance appointment.
Heartland Makes Heat Pump Tune-Ups Easy
Want to make sure your heat pump lasts as long as possible, but you keep forgetting to schedule your annual maintenance? Heartland has the solution. Sign up for our affordable HVAC maintenance plan. Our team of technicians will call you twice a year to remind you about your maintenance, and then we can create an appointment around your busy schedule.
Members of the maintenance plan also receive other additional benefits such as priority emergency service and discounts on parts and labor. Never miss a maintenance appointment again, and sign up for the Heartland maintenance plan.
Schedule Your Heat Pump Service with Heartland Today
Fall will be here before you know it, and now is the perfect time to sign up for your fall HVAC maintenance appointment. Call Heartland Heating, Air, and Plumbing today to schedule your annual furnace, heat pump, or boiler maintenance.