Los Angeles receives plenty of sunshine for most of the year, but around fall, the temperature starts dropping a bit and in the winter can average at upper 60s for a high and upper 40s at night. Temperatures in the 40s can definitely call for reversing the valve on your heat pump to heating mode. Thus, it’s important to keep your heat pump in top condition so it will work well throughout the chillier season. To transition your heat pump from summer to fall, here are some maintenance checkups that need to be done, divided into two categories:
For DIY projects:
- Keep air filters clean and fresh, and replace filters with new ones if necessary. Dirty filters cause damage to the system, causing higher energy usage and early failure.
- Remove debris around the outdoor portion of your heat pump. For good air circulation, the unit needs a few feet of cleared area around it.
For the pros:
- Lubricate mechanical parts. Otherwise, there will be greater friction in the motor, leading to an increase in energy usage.
- Check system controls. The system should start and shut off correctly to ensure safe operation.
- Ensure electrical connections are functioning properly. Faulty connections are not only inefficient, but they’re major fire hazards, too.
- Detect and seal duct leakage. When leaks are present, even a powerful heat pump turned all the way up will not work as efficiently as it should.
Tasks for pros should be performed by no less than HVAC professionals. They would be able to correctly assess your heat pump’s performance, recommend necessary actions based on their assessments, and do these actions themselves to optimize the system.
In Los Angeles, you don’t have to look far for the experts you need when you want to transition your heat pump, not when we at Around The Clock Heating and Air Conditioning are here to assist you any time. Schedule an appointment with us or call 800-434-9277 for emergency services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, downloadour free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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