Heat Pump Maintenance & Tune-Ups in Greater Houston

We inspect your heat pump’s filter—critical for both heating and cooling operation. A clogged filter restricts airflow in both seasons, forces the system to work harder, and can cause the evaporator coil to freeze in heating mode (if blockage is severe). We check filter condition and replace if needed. We advise on filter type (fiberglass vs. pleated vs. HEPA) and replacement frequency (typically every 30–90 days, depending on pets, dust, and filter quality).

We inspect the outdoor condenser coil for dirt, leaves, pollen, and debris. A dirty outdoor coil can’t exchange heat efficiently in either heating or cooling mode. In heating mode especially, a blocked outdoor coil prevents the heat pump from extracting warmth from outside air, causing weak heating and reliance on less-efficient auxiliary heat. We use a soft-bristle brush and compressed air to clean the coil carefully—high-pressure water can damage coil fins.

We also check coil drainage in heating mode: melted defrost water should drain freely from the outdoor unit. If drainage is blocked, ice can accumulate and restrict operation.

We inspect the indoor evaporator coil for dirt and ice buildup. A dirty coil reduces heat transfer in both heating and cooling modes and can freeze if airflow is restricted. In cooling mode, a frozen coil causes weak cooling. In heating mode, a frozen indoor coil is rare but indicates serious airflow obstruction. We may recommend professional coil cleaning every few years depending on home environment and filter use.

We connect manifold gauges and measure your system’s low-side and high-side pressures in both heating and cooling modes. Heat pump pressures differ between modes, so we verify charge accuracy in each direction. We calculate superheat and subcooling to confirm refrigerant charge is correct—overcharge or undercharge both reduce efficiency and can damage the compressor.

If charge is slightly low, we discuss whether a slow leak is developing (likely) or whether the charge was light from installation (rare). If we detect a slow leak, we recommend monitoring or proactive repair during maintenance—small leaks are easier to fix now than to chase during heating season.

We test the reversing valve’s solenoid response: setting the thermostat to heat and listening for an audible click as the solenoid energizes, then listening for another click when switching to cool. A healthy reversing valve clicks clearly in both directions. If the solenoid doesn’t click, or if the system delivers the wrong mode (calling for heat but delivering cold air), reversing valve failure is likely and replacement is needed.

We also verify that the system switches modes smoothly and that room temperature reaches setpoint within a reasonable timeframe in both heating and cooling—a slow response might indicate low charge or valve sluggishness.

If maintaining during fall or early winter, we test the defrost cycle operation. The defrost cycle periodically reverses the heat pump to melt ice from the outdoor coil during heating operation. We listen for the cycle to engage (solenoid click), monitor for the brief heating interruption while defrost runs, and verify that heating resumes after the defrost period (typically 15 minutes). A functioning defrost cycle prevents ice buildup and heating failure in cold weather.

We test your run capacitor (the most common failure point), compressor contactor, and fan motor capacitor using a multimeter and capacitance tester. Capacitor failure is a leading cause of heating or cooling loss. Testing them during maintenance alerts you to impending failure before your system fails mid-season.

We check all electrical connections in the outdoor unit—breaker terminals, disconnect switch, reversing valve solenoid terminals, capacitor terminals—ensuring they’re tight and not corroded. Loose connections create resistance, generate heat, and can cause electrical fires. We tighten connections and note corrosion for future monitoring.

We test your thermostat’s room temperature reading for accuracy. We verify it switches between heating and cooling correctly (related to reversing valve testing but from the thermostat control side). For programmable or smart thermostats, we check your schedules—are they optimized for comfort and efficiency? Are you accidentally overriding settings?

For smart thermostats, we confirm connectivity and app functionality. We discuss whether your current thermostat setting strategy makes sense for your household and utility costs.

We run your heat pump through a full heating cycle: thermostat calls for heat, we verify the outdoor unit runs, we measure outlet temperature, and we confirm the system reaches setpoint. Then we switch to cooling mode and repeat the test. We measure system runtime in each mode to confirm performance is balanced.

All readings—pressures in heating and cooling, temperatures, superheat, subcooling, electrical values, defrost cycle timing—are recorded in our service report. We photograph any concerns and document component condition.

Before we leave, we review our findings in plain language. We explain what we tested, what we found, and what to watch for. For fall maintenance, we note heating readiness and any repair recommendations before cold weather. For spring maintenance, we note cooling readiness and efficiency status.

We discuss whether a slow leak warrants repair now or monitoring, whether a capacitor should be replaced proactively, or whether your system is performing well and just needs routine annual maintenance. We leave you with a printed report detailing every check across both heating and cooling operation.