Heat pump servicing and repairs
Annual checks that keep efficiency up and bills down
A heat pump has fewer moving parts than a boiler, but it isn't fit and forget. Leaves block the outdoor coil, system pressure drops, filters clog and controls drift. None of that stops it working overnight. It just makes it work harder and cost more to run. Our MCS certified engineers service air source and ground source heat pumps, and we fix them when something goes wrong.
Why bother with an annual service?
Most heat pump faults creep in slowly. A half-blocked strainer or a coil caked in leaves won't trigger an error code on day one, but it cuts efficiency every hour the system runs. A yearly check catches that before you notice it on the electricity bill.
Check your warranty paperwork too. Manufacturer warranties often come with servicing conditions, and missing a service can make a claim harder down the line.
What we check
Every service follows the same core list, plus anything specific to your make and model:
- Outdoor unit: coil cleaned, fan and casing checked, debris and vegetation cleared
- Condensate and defrost drainage running freely
- System pressure, expansion vessel and pressure relief valve
- Filters and strainers cleaned, inhibitor level tested
- Flow and return temperatures against the design
- Electrical connections and controls
- Hot water cylinder and its safety valves
- Ground source: brine loop pressure and circulation pump
Common problems we fix
A puff of steam from the outdoor unit on a frosty morning is usually just the defrost cycle doing its job. A unit that's iced solid and staying that way is not. That's often a drainage, airflow or sensor issue.
Other call-outs we see: rooms not getting warm enough because the flow temperature was set too low or too high, low system pressure, noisy pumps, error codes after a power cut, and hot water that runs out too quickly because the cylinder schedule is wrong. Plenty of 'faults' turn out to be controls set up badly at the start, and a proper reset can transform how the system feels.
Systems someone else fitted
We service and repair heat pumps we didn't install. If yours has never felt right, we'll look at the original design against how the house actually behaves. Sometimes the answer is a few settings; sometimes a radiator or two is undersized. We'll explain what we find and quote before doing anything beyond the service.
Running a hybrid? We can service the boiler side on the same visit.
What is included
- Full visual and operational check of indoor and outdoor units
- Coil, filters and strainers cleaned
- Pressure, inhibitor and temperature readings recorded
- Controls and schedules reviewed with you
- Hot water cylinder safety checks
- Written service record for your warranty file
Heat pump servicing and repairs FAQs
How often should a heat pump be serviced?
Once a year is the sensible default, and it's what we recommend. Your manufacturer's warranty terms may set their own interval, so go by those if they're stricter.
My outdoor unit is steaming. Is it broken?
Probably not. In cold, damp weather the unit regularly melts ice off its coil, and that shows up as a cloud of vapour for a few minutes. If it stays frozen solid, or the house is going cold, give us a call.
Can you service a heat pump you didn't install?
Yes, air source and ground source. If it has never performed well, we'll check the original sizing and settings as part of the visit and tell you honestly what we think.
My bills went up after switching. Is something wrong?
Possibly. Common culprits are flow temperatures set too high, the immersion heater running more than it should, or schedules fighting each other. Those are cheap fixes. If it's a sizing problem, we'll explain your options before you spend anything.
Get a fixed price for your home
Tell us about the job and we will arrange a free survey.