Maintaining a Heat Pump Effectively: A Guide
As the colder months approach, homeowners are encouraged to proactively check and maintain their heating distribution systems to ensure optimum performance. This includes radiators, underfloor systems, and air source heat pumps.
If you own an air source heat pump, it's essential to keep an eye out for potential issues. For instance, if a problem arises with your air source heat pump, it's best to contact a registered MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) heating engineer. External pipework insulation should also be checked for corrosion and re-wrapped with weatherproof tape if necessary.
Homeowners can usually check one of the filters, known as the strainer, that is located outside by the heat pump unit. If a leak is detected in an air source heat pump, it should be inspected by a competent heat pump engineer.
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your heat pump in good working order. Homeowners should complete annual checks on their ground source heat pump, including checking inhibitor levels, ensuring pump valves and actuators are functioning correctly, checking room stats and programmers, cleaning filters or a MagnaClean, ensuring the pressure is above 2 bar, performing an air charge pressure check on the expansion vessel, checking antifreeze concentration, and health.
For those considering biomass boilers or solar panels, it's crucial to learn how to work out your energy needs and choose the right renewables.
It's also important to ensure an unobstructed airflow at the back and front of the heat pump, and to regularly check the area behind the heat pump for objects that may have been lodged. Homeowners should avoid leaving items on top of or around the heat pump, as they can dent the top and obstruct airflow.
Hoses can be used to clean off the heat pump fins, but a hard brush should be avoided to prevent damage. In the case of ground source heat pump problems, contact the supplier in the first instance. For air source heat pumps, it's recommended to book an annual service before winter, performed by a qualified heat pump engineer to maintain the warranty.
Heat pumps are low-maintenance heating options, similar to traditional gas boiler systems, but require a professional annual service. If full remote control and monitoring are not available, find a controller that stores operating data on a memory card for analysis and updates.
Experts like David Billingsley, a renewables and ventilation installer with over 35 years of experience, and Hamid Salimi, a Product Manager at Daikin with a focus on renewable heating, recommend following a 5-point checklist to assess your home's suitability for a heat pump. If unsure about maintaining the heat pump, homeowners should consult with their installer or service engineer.
Tamara Birch, an environmental writer with four years of experience, advises homeowners and small businesses on cost-effective ways to become more sustainable, such as solar panels and energy-efficient products.
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