Before winter arrives, you want to ensure that your heating installation is functioning properly. This precaution is the best way to prepare for a cozy winter without heating breakdowns. As the owner of a heat pump, you will have to carry out various checks to find out if it is working correctly. Follow us for an overview and discover our advice on the points to consider depending on the type of heat pump you have.
The two main types of heat pumps
There are 2 categories of heat pumps. We distinguish between air-air heat pumps and air-water heat pumps, each having its particularities, its strong points and its weak points.
Air-air heat pumps
Air-air heat pumps are used all year round since they also act as an air conditioner, thus serving as a heater in winter and an air cooler in summer. As a result, they are more likely to experience damage. On the other hand, you have all the more opportunity to notice a possible malfunction.
Air-water heat pumps
Air-water heat pumps are mainly used in winter, and are used more for systems that require high temperatures, such as heated floors or radiators.
The checks to be carried out
To find out if your heat pump is working, you can carry out various checks and some tests, which will quickly tell you if you need to call a professional to carry out more in-depth checks:
- The first check to be carried out is visual. Carefully inspecting your entire installation allows you to spot a possible leak in the pipes, compressor or condenser;
- You can then check that the air pressure present in the circuit is neither too high nor too low, which could be a sign of a malfunction in your heat pump;
- In the case of an air-water heat pump, the coolant circulating in the pipes must have a certain flow rate to ensure optimal operation of the installation. So check the intensity and regularity of this flow;
- Another part of making sure your heat pump is working properly is making sure the water or air coming out is at the correct temperature. Too hot or too cold means your heat pump needs servicing;
- In all cases, your heat pump has a digital screen. It is important to regularly check the display of this screen because when a problem occurs, a code is displayed depending on the malfunction encountered. It is then easier to refer to the device's instructions to identify a possible fault.
For your information, note that certain heat pump models even transmit this data directly to the technician responsible for maintaining your installation!
Routine maintenance of your heat pump
To prevent as many incidents as possible, the best thing is to carry out regular maintenance on the elements of your heating system. So, think about:
- Clean and replace air filters regularly;
- Check the coolant level;
- Inspect the tightness of the connections;
- From time to time, examine the electronic components to ensure that they are in perfect working order;
- Replace the belts, spark plugs and air filters in your heating system every year or two.
On a daily basis, your system must always be well ventilated. You can therefore carry out a few checks on the outdoor module, and in particular, make sure that dead leaves from the autumn season have not obstructed the ventilation grilles. Then wipe the grills with a damp sponge to keep them looking like new. Finally, in the heart of winter, check that frost does not hinder the operation of the module.
As you will have understood, the optimal functioning and lifespan of your heat pump are the result of regular maintenance. These few checks are simple to carry out and they must be carried out regularly, in order to quickly detect the occurrence of a problem. It is then easier to call in a technician for any repairs, and this professional can then resolve the problem before it gets worse.
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