Furnace and Heat Pump Maintenance & Inspection
Just by inspecting and servicing these parts of your furnace and heat pump, you can improve the efficiency and extend the life of your system:
Air filters
Dirty air filters cause a reduction in airflow which overheats motors, wiring and heating elements. This can damage heat pumps which rely on a certain amount of airflow across the indoor refrigerant coil.
Indoor refrigerant coil
Wash coil with pump sprayer and special coil cleaner if needed. This has the same effect on a system as a dirty air filter. If customer is using an inefficient air filter or no filter at all, the coil will probably need to be cleaned. Blow out condensate drain line. If line plugs, water may overflow onto motor and electrical components causing costly repairs or damage to the home.
Motors
Oil motors on older systems. Newer motors have sealed bearings which don't require oiling.
Elements, wiring, switches & capacitors
The motors in a furnace and the compressors in heat pumps have capacitors which give starting and running torque. A weak capacitor causes overheating and premature system failure.
Refrigerant charge
A heat pump low on refrigerant will run much longer causing increased electrical consumption. This can cause damage to the compressor because refrigerant is what cools the compressor motor. If a system is low, there is most likely a leak, and the leak must be found and repaired before being recharged.
Heat pump refrigerant coil
Dryer vents next to heat pumps are the most common reason this coil gets plugged up. Restriction in this coil causes extra wear and tear also reducing efficiency.
Heat pump contactor
This is the main switch that energizes the heat pump. These contacts open and close hundreds of times a year, causing them to become burnt and pitted. The contactor should be replaced every 4 to 7 years. If not, this can damage the compressor.
Defrost operation
Below 40 degrees, a heat pump needs to defrost to remove ice build up on outdoor coil. A failure of the defrost mode will result in excessive ice buildup causing a loss in efficiency and possibly damaging the compressor.
Crankcase heater
This heater is mounted at the bottom of compressor. It prevents liquid refrigerant from entering into the compressor in the off cycle. Failure of this can cause compressor damage.
Electrical amp draw of all motors
All motors have a maximum rated draw. An above rated draw would be an indicator of worn bearings.
To have your heating and cooling systems serviced, call Todd at 360-624-4881 or go to www.toddsheatingcooling.com.
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