How Long Should Your Heat Pump Last

A heat pump is a device capable of heating or cooling a home by shifting heat from one source to another. It diverts the heat from your home to outdoors in warm weather. The opposite happens in cold weather. It is an extremely effective way to heat a building or to cool it down.

However, before investing in a heat pump one important question people ask is how long the equipment will last. This is because not only do people want equipment with a longer lifespan, they also want to enjoy value for their money before the end of product life.

A heat pump’s life expectancy depends on a number of factors, such as the type of heat pump, your location and how well the heat pump is maintained. The weather in your area, for example, has a huge effect on the longevity of a heat pump. A heat pump runs longer when the area experiences longer and colder winters which can shorten its lifespan.

Heat Pumps are Built to Last

The life expectancy of heat pumps is normally around 15 years. As already pointed out, the life expectancy of heat pumps depends on different factors. These factors include location, maintenance level and type of heat pump that you have. Certain heat pumps last only 10 years but the newer units currently manufactured usually last longer due to technological developments.

Geothermal heat pumps, for example, are designed to be very durable and have very long lifespans. You can expect to get around 25 years out of Ground Source Heat Pumps indoor components and an excess of 50 years for the ground accessories. Although the cost of installation can be up to five times more costly than regular HVAC units, Ground Source Heat Pumps are up to 65% more efficient, which pays you back in energy savings over time, usually within 10 years.

Consistent maintenance of the device often influences the life expectancy of the heat pumps. Heat pumps that are serviced periodically will enjoy two to three years more in usable life. Pre-season check-ups and cleaning are required to ensure a longer lifespan for the system. This is best performed during the spring or autumn.

If you already have a heat pump and want to extend its lifespan to the fullest, schedule a quality maintenance check-up and cleaning with The Mittens Heat Pumps UK today. Call 01273 257407 to book a visit.

On the other hand, a professional installer has to inspect everything every three to five years. These routine inspections will help maintain the reliability of the heat pump system and reduce the risk of unforeseen and possibly expensive repairs.

We Recommend You Check Certain Values Yourself

For some common problems, you can and should monitor your heat pump yourself, to avoid problems further down the road. There are actually a few values and a checklist you should pay attention to, to avoid failure of your system or costly repairs. These checks may be carried out regularly while awaiting the appointment of the technician.

There are some things you can do yourself to help keep a heat pump in good working condition:

• Change or clean air filters every 30 to 60 days.
• Keep grass, dirt, snow and other rubble away from the outdoor unit.
• Keep a 2-foot clearance area around the heat pump.
• Keep the air flowing and the vents open by dusting the supply and return registers.

If you notice signs of unusual operation, however, you may need to call an HVAC technician to check that everything is working properly.

We Recommend You Schedule a Professional Visit Once Every 5 Years

It is important to note that certain maintenance of heat pumps is definitely NOT a DIY job. If you are not properly trained and experienced, it is extremely dangerous to work with high voltage electricity and refrigerant chemicals. Also, you can end up doing more harm than good to your system. For these reasons, you should always contact a professional for routine maintenance service.

With an HVAC professional, you should schedule maintenance of the heat pump at least once every five years. However, if your heat pump is your primary system of heating and cooling instead of a supplementary system, you may want to plan maintenance for once or twice every year.

Signs Your Heat Pump Is Slowing Down

When you see signs that your heat pump is breaking down, it might be time to contact a professional contractor to help with a replacement. Common signs to look out for include:

Sign 3

One problem you may face after using a heat pump system for a few years is that while it may still blast air, it may not generate as much heat or cold air as it has before. When you find that the heat pump generates cold air even though it is set to a high temperature, or warm air when on a lower temperature, your heat pump needs looking at.

It may be that you simply need to clean or replace the filters, therefore, the first place to look is there. If you have already replaced the filters and serviced the system recently, it is a strong indicator that it needs a replacement. Replacing a heat pump is an immense undertaking but it comes with several advantages.

If you observe certain signs not covered here but are not sure if they are serious enough to warrant a heat pump replacement, our experts can advise you. For a consultation and quote contact us today at 01273 257407.

Replacing a Part Can Extend the Lifespan

As with all other devices in your home, if you take proper care of them, heat pumps or HVAC units will last longer. Which is why it is vital to maintain them regularly. Yet aside from routine servicing, replacing worn-out parts and components can be all you need to prolong your heat pump equipment’s lifespan.

Dirty air filters in your heat pump will cause the device to operate harder than normal to achieve the preferred results, wearing down the machine faster than usual in the end. To help, ensure that the air filters in the pump are frequently washed or replaced, enabling the machine to work smoothly by eliminating dust, sand and debris.

Researchers currently claim that replacing a dirty filter will reduce the energy usage of a heating and air conditioning system by up to 10%.

Heat Pumps Have Been Known to Have an Ultimate Lifespan of 50 Years

With regard to both heating and cooling, heat pumps are the most efficient alternative to oil, gas and electrical systems. Gas furnaces do a pretty decent job, rated at nearly 98% efficiency, however, from a carbon footprint perspective they do not represent a long-term solution.

Heat pumps deliver more capacity for heating and cooling than the amount of electricity needed to operate them. In fact, properly installed and well-maintained heat pumps achieve an efficiency of more than 300%.

That’s not all, though. Apart from the low running cost and low maintenance, the lifespan of heat pumps is relatively long – the average lifespan is somewhere between 14 and 15 years but they may even reach as old as 50 years. Considering these numbers, they are an exceptionally dependable and steady heat source.

That being said, they naturally lose some efficiency as heat pumps age. And although a well-maintained heat pump can last a few decades, newer models are much more effective so you should be prepared for a replacement heat pump when the time comes. This will definitely happen long past the average life expectancy, however.

The Mittens Heat Pumps UK are experts in renewable energies such as heat pumps. With our years of experience in the industry, we are well-positioned to provide you with the expertise you need for all your heat pump requirements, whether air or ground source. And you can rest assured that the equipment we install will all be backed by suppliers and installation guarantee for efficient operation and service life.

If you are interested in receiving quotes for heat pumps, let us know about your needs and preferences and we’ll get back to you with free, no-obligation quotes as soon as possible. Or you can call our office on 01273 257407 to speak to one of our professional staff members about your heat pump project needs.

We look forward to hearing about your idea. Get in touch today.