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Revised:
March 13th, 2023
It’s generally accepted that heat pumps last around 10 to 15 years, although a perfectly installed and maintained heat pump might last as long as 20 years. They very rarely will last as long as furnaces, which get heavy usage perhaps three months a year here in Columbus, Ohio.
And even though air conditioners have to live outdoors where the conditions can be less than ideal, they, too, generally last longer than heat pumps. Like furnaces, they get heavy usage only a quarter of the year.
Heat pumps are the workhorses of your HVAC. They’re a furnace in the winter, and an air conditioner in the summer. They do both tasks efficiently.
The cost of a new heat pump ranges from $5,000 - $12,500. (These prices account for the cost of the equipment, labor, and other fees. This range also covers a variety of system sizes and levels of sophistication, including variable-capacity heat pump systems.)
When you’re investing that much, it would be nice to know that you can get the best lifespan for your money. It would also be best if your heat pump doesn’t have to undergo a slew of repairs to bolster its performance.
At the end of the day, the lifetime of your heat pump depends on how well it’s installed, how often it’s used, how well it’s maintained, and a few other factors.
If you own one, or you’re in the market to buy a new one, there are some factors to consider when you try to figure out how long one will last.
Read more: How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost to Replace?
1. Get the Correct Size Heat Pump
The right-sized system (also referred to as its “capacity”) matters a lot. Heat pumps come in sizes ranging from one-and-a-half tons to five. The numbers correspond to the amount of air it needs to move. A five-ton heat pump has the power to heat a four-ton home, but herein lies a huge problem.
An oversized heat pump does one part of its job fine. It can heat and cool the whole house. The problem is that it does what’s called “short cycling.” Cycles refer to how many times the stale air in a room is replaced by conditioned air.
A unit that’s too powerful cools or heats quickly, then shuts off prematurely. It doesn’t cycle the air enough. Why is this important? Your HVAC system should create enough cycles for the air to mix completely. When it’s “short cycling,” it leaves hot and cold spots all through the house. It doesn’t run enough to take care of high humidity levels. Your indoor air quality level will suffer.
Worse, it’s hard on the machine.
It will stop and start more times than a right-sized unit. It’s going to shortchange the life of your system because the excessive starts and stops are very hard on it.
I use the comparison of city miles to highway miles. If you have a car that drove 100,000 miles that was driving only in the city, it’s not going to last as long as a car with 100,000 miles that’s been driven on highways.
And if it’s undersized, you have a different problem. A heat pump that’s undersized will run and run and run and wear itself out that way. It will struggle to reach the set temperature. Your energy bill will climb, and your comfort level, especially during hot and cold days, will suffer.
And if it’s running more than it should, that means a shorter lifespan.
The way you get the correct size heat pump is through a Manual J load calculation. It takes into account several factors including size and number of windows, style of home, number of occupants, insulation thickness, and more.
Do HVAC companies skip this step? Unfortunately, yes. Some companies only do British Thermal Units (BTUs) per square foot. That can get you close but it doesn’t account for if the house is facing north, west, east, or south. (A home facing north or south in Central Ohio gets you the most solar heat.) Facing one direction can get you a three-and-one-half-ton 80,000 BTUS heat pump, whereas if you turn the house 90 degrees, it could be a three-ton with 100,000 BTUs heat pump.
And a house with six occupants has a very different heating and cooling need than a house with only two.
Your HVAC company should do this for every customer.
Live in Columbus or its immediate surroundings? Talk with a specialist today.
Contact Us2. Make Sure the Heat Pump Is Installed Properly
If a heat pump is installed incorrectly and not operating within the manufacturer’s specifications, it has been set up to fail. The most important day in the life of a heat pump is day one.
A thorough HVAC contractor runs a procedure called commissioning. It’s to ensure that every moving part is operating as it should.
If it’s not, the consequences are you have a defective machine, It will hurt the energy efficiency, it could cause comfort problems (uneven temperatures, humidity issues, excessive noise, etc.), and it could inflate your energy bill.
That’s why manufacturers say even if it’s brand new and you’ve kept it maintained, your warranty can be voided. This can be an eye-opener, especially if you have to pay for expensive repairs.
That’s why it’s important to choose the right company and hire people who care about getting it right from day one.
3. Next to Installation, Regular Maintenance Is the Most Important Factor for a Heat Pump’s Lifespan
A homeowner can perform a simple heat pump tune-up when they go out and clean the outdoor unit. Make sure all of that ragweed or grass-clipping buildup is clear of the coil so the heat pump can breathe easier.
Use a garden hose and spray from the inside out, so the debris leaves the unit. Don’t spray from the outside in. If you spray from the outside, you’ll be pushing the gunk into the coil. Use the gentler shower setting – not jet, as that could harm the system.
When debris builds up on the coil, it’s like wearing a mask. It’s hard to breathe. You can do it, but it’s tougher. That’s exactly what the heat pump is doing when it’s clogged on the outside. It can’t pull in enough air. It can’t properly cool the refrigerant back down, and it’s not going to work as well.
During proper annual maintenance, HVAC experts run diagnostics so that they make sure the refrigerant charge is good, make sure everything is level and running properly, and they check voltages on capacitors and motors. If there’s anything they can catch before it becomes a major issue, they’ll let you know. They’ll ask, “Do you want to address this problem now or wait?”
Depending on the unit, it might cause it to work harder to deliver the same conditioned air. Working harder = shorter lifespan. The energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump is 10 to 25 percent lower than that of a neglected one according to the Department of Energy.
A maintenance agreement will keep you on a regular schedule.
4. Change Your Air Filter
A clogged air filter is probably the number one reason we get service calls.
It will affect the performance of your heat pump as well as your gas furnace or air handler. Your heap pump will suffocate. It needs a steady supply from the return air ducts.
It’s going to speed up because it can’t get enough air, and it will eventually wear out because it’s working harder than it should.
Read more: Furnace Filter Facts: All Your Questions Answered
Most one-inch filters suggest replacing them every three months or so. Thicker filters can last up to six months or even a year. Others require washing
You can do this yourself or have an HVAC technician do it for you.
5. Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Cleaning the ducts will help keep the air filter from getting clogged. When the air filter is clogged, as we’ve mentioned earlier, that puts a strain on the entire HVAC system. The air should flow freely.
As an added benefit of having a clean filter, it means less junk will wind up in your indoor unit. That will prolong its life, as well.
Read more: Air Duct Cleaning in Columbus, Ohio
Unless you’ve removed a register and taken a peek inside your ducts, you really have no idea how much dust and debris is in there. When the furnace’s blower fan is running, the air circulating through your duct system is going to stream across it, making allergy sufferers miserable while diminishing the indoor air quality.
Extending the Lifespan of Your Heat Pump in Columbus, Ohio
Now that you know the basics about how to maximize your heat pump’s longevity, you’re ready to take some next steps.
We encourage you to continue to educate yourself as you approach your next big HVAC project. Knowing the reasons behind a decision can help you avoid common pitfalls in heat pump installation and maintenance. It can also help you pick the best HVAC partner for your next job.
Read more: Heat Pumps 101: The Ultimate List of Heat Pump FAQS
And if you’re ready to talk to an HVAC company now and would like to schedule an appointment with Fire & Ice, fill in your zip code in the graphic below to see if you’re in our service area.
