What belongs on a heat pump maintenance checklist?
Updated August 2026
A heat pump earns two pro service visits a year, before heating and before cooling, at $100–200 each, plus a filter every 30 to 90 days and coils cleaned yearly. Because it both heats and cools, it runs close to twelve months a year and wears twice as hard as a furnace, so that second visit is not optional. Keep the outdoor unit clear and the coils clean and it will hit its 12 to 15 years.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Check or change the air filter | 30–90 days | 2 min · DIY |
| Clear snow, leaves, and grass from the outdoor unit | Monthly | 5 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Rinse the outdoor coil clean | Twice a year | 30 min · DIY |
| Confirm the defrost cycle works in winter | Fall | 5 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-cooling tune-up: refrigerant and coils | Spring | $100–200 pro |
| Pre-heating tune-up: reversing valve, defrost | Fall | $100–200 pro |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Clear ice and drifts off the unit, never chip at it | As needed | 10 min · DIY |
What neglect costs
Skip the coil cleaning and a heat pump loses capacity in both seasons, running longer for less comfort and pushing your electric bill up. A frozen or buried outdoor unit that cannot defrost ices over solid, and forcing it that way can bend fins or fail the defrost board. The big-ticket failures mirror an AC: a dirty-coil compressor burnout lands around $1,500–2,800, and a reversing-valve replacement runs $600–1,200. Two tune-ups a year, roughly $300 total, prevent nearly all of it.
Leave these to a pro
Budget for the two annual visits, one in spring and one in fall, at $100–200 apiece or bundled cheaper on a maintenance plan. The tech reads the refrigerant charge, tests the reversing valve and defrost control that are unique to heat pumps, and checks the auxiliary heat strips. Filters, coil rinsing, and keeping the unit clear are yours; the sealed refrigerant system and the electrical controls are the pro's. If yours is aging, the replacement guide covers when to stop servicing it.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
Why does my heat pump ice up in winter?
A light frost on the outdoor coil is normal in cold, damp weather, and the unit runs a defrost cycle every 30 to 90 minutes to melt it. A problem looks like thick ice encasing the whole unit, which points to a stuck defrost control, low refrigerant, or blocked airflow. Never chip at it or pour hot water on it. Clear snow drifts away from the base and call for service if the ice keeps returning.
Do heat pumps really need service twice a year?
Yes, more than a furnace or AC does, because a heat pump works in both seasons and logs roughly double the run hours. One visit before cooling season and one before heating season catches refrigerant loss and reversing-valve wear early, when they are cheap. Many warranties also require documented annual service. Between visits, the filter and a clear outdoor unit are the two things you handle yourself.
Should I cover my heat pump in winter?
No, never wrap or box in the outdoor unit; it runs all winter and needs airflow to shed frost, and a full cover traps moisture and invites rodents. At most, some makers sell a small top-only cover to keep icicles from dripping onto the coil, but the sides must stay open. Keep it raised a few inches on its pad so snowmelt drains and the unit can breathe.