Should you clean your HVAC coils? Why do you need a heat pump cleaning service? These are questions mini split heat pump owners find themselves asking. The short answer to both is YES! Your home needs regular heat pump cleaning done to keep your home clean. But, that’s just the beginning!
Manufacturers of mini split heat pump units recommend having these units disassembled and deep cleaned once a year on average. Cleaning these units can not only be time consuming and complicated – it can also be dangerous, for your safety and your wallet in the event you should damage something during repair. It’s always best to hire a reputable company with a trustworthy reputation and a fair price handle these cleanings for you. That’s what they’re here for.
Indoor / Outdoor Units: What do they do?
The outdoor unit is often overlooked but requires attention because it is exposed to the elements 24/7. Indoor evaporator coils are exposed to all of the dust, dirt, and pollen inside of your home or office, but the outdoor coils need to deal with added dirt, pollen, leaves, grass clippings, storm debris, soot, rodents, insects, and many other contaminants.
Home and business owners that hire professional heat pump cleaning services will experience many noticeable benefits. Some of those benefits is a decrease in energy bills increasing energy efficiency and temperature control, while improving indoor air quality. Heat pump cleaning also removes blockages that prevent air from properly flowing through the system, which is a critical part of the unit’s job. Confused about how the whole set up works? We’re glad you asked – it you help clarify why deep cleaning these units annually is so important.
The HVAC outdoor condenser is located outside of your building and is vital to the function and efficiency of your heating and cooling system. The indoor coil evaporator is full of refrigerant that cools the coils down as warm air from the room passes over them and is absorbed and cooled in temperature. The warmed refrigerant is then transferred to the outdoor condenser coils where the heat is dispelled. With the help of a powerful fan, the outdoor unit cools the hot refrigerant gas into a liquid, which cannot happen effectively without heat pump cleaning. The indoor mini split heat pump and outdoor condenser unit work together in unison to both heat and cool homes and offices all over the world. When the indoor or the outdoor coils are laden with debris, airflow is blocked and temperature regulation is weak at best. These are a few reasons to hire a local heat pump cleaning service, especially with the climate fluctuations in Vermont and New Hampshire where both heating and cooling can be needed in the same day!
Clean Coils Matter: Top 3 Consequences
Higher Energy Bills
The efficiency of your heat pump system depends on multiple factors. Cleanliness is one of the most important factors. The cleaner your condenser coils are the more effective the unit will be. Since the outdoor unit is exposed to elements, it requires frequent cleanings. When dirt, grass, etc. get caught up in the outdoor unit, it works harder and longer to cool the increasing your energy bills.
More Expensive Breaks
Since dirty coils on your inside and outdoor units get dirty, the natural effect of that is it takes them longer to cool and harder to work which leads to breakage. Components wear out faster and grime builds up more.
Air Quality Matters
One of the biggest shockers for most people is how dirty the mini-split gets inside their home or office. With a year of regular use, mold often grows inside and your air is pushed through it. Air quality in your home and office is a significant problem in the United States when it comes to VOCs and allergens affecting people’s health. Often times, mini split heat pumps neglected cause more harm than good. Physical symptoms sometimes caused by indoor air pollutants include: nasal issues, itchy eyes, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, or increased issues with asthma. When your mini-split and condenser are not cleaned by a professional heat pump cleaning service, the range of symptoms is wide and ultimately can be prevented with regular and proper cleaning.
Dirty Mini-Split and Condensers Facts
Heat pump coil cleanings protect your HVAC system and your bottom line. But where’s the proof? Articles on this subject abound, but here are a couple of highlights:
Stats and Facts on Dirty Condenser Coils:
As reported by Southern California Edison (SCE), dirty condenser coils:
- Degrade cooling capacity by as much as 40%
- Increase condenser fan by as much as 30%
- Increase compressor power by as much as 70%
- Reduce energy efficiency (EER) by as much as 60%
- Increase supply air temperature by about 5°F
According to the US Department of Energy, “a dirty condenser coil can increase compressor energy consumption by 30%.” With this increase in energy consumption comes an increase in supply air temperature, by around 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Other studies, including one from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), prove that regular coil cleanings (inside and outside) will improve energy efficiency and IAQ performance by 10-15%.
https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/mechanical-systems/how-ductless-air-conditioners-work
Experts everywhere agree that these units are a great investment, when properly maintained. If you are trying to decide if these units are for you, there are many good articles out there, like this one, that give you a good sense of the pros and cons. Inevitably, when you get a mini split heat pump, be sure to faithfully maintain the heat pump deep cleaning.