Heat Pump

7 Signs Your Heat Pump Needs Servicing

Modern heat pumps are built to last 15 years or more. But without maintenance, most of them give out after 8 to 10 years — often because of a problem that could have been caught months earlier. Here are the 7 signs to watch for.

1. It's Cooling or Heating Less Effectively Than Before

If your room takes longer to reach the desired temperature, or the air coming out feels less warm (or less cool) than it did six months ago, it's almost always a sign the coils are dirty. A dirty evaporator can lose up to 30% of its efficiency.

2. It's Making Unusual Noises

Clicking, whistling, grinding, an irregular hum — a healthy heat pump is quiet. Any new noise is a message. Some are harmless (fan blades unbalanced by dirt buildup), others signal an imminent breakdown (a failing motor bearing, a struggling compressor).

3. Your Electricity Bill Is Climbing for No Reason

Compare your winter or summer bills year over year. If consumption is rising without any change in your habits, the heat pump is compensating for its lost efficiency by running longer. You're paying for its wear and tear.

4. Water Is Leaking Under the Indoor Unit

This is almost always a clogged condensate drain. Water that should be draining away is overflowing the pan instead. Left untreated, this can damage your ceiling or floor, and encourage mold growth inside the unit itself.

5. The Outdoor Unit Is Covered in Ice

A bit of frost in winter is normal — the heat pump defrosts itself automatically. But a unit completely covered in ice that never melts points to a problem: a failed defrost cycle, low refrigerant, or a faulty sensor. Get it checked quickly.

6. An Unpleasant Smell on Startup

Musty smell? There's likely mold in the drain or on the evaporator. Burning smell or hot plastic? Shut the unit off immediately and call a technician — it could be a serious electrical issue.

7. The Unit Keeps Starting and Stopping

This is called "short cycling." The unit runs for only a few minutes at a time before shutting off, then starts again. It wears out the compressor fast — the most expensive part of a heat pump. Common causes: a clogged filter, a thermostat problem, or incorrect refrigerant levels.

What to Do If You Notice One of These Signs

Most of these issues can be fixed in a single preventive maintenance visit. The earlier you act, the simpler and cheaper it is. Waiting often turns a simple tune-up into a major repair — or worse, a compressor replacement.