How Long Do Heat Pumps Last?

What is a heat pump?

In the simplest of terms, a heat pump is one of the many home heating systems in use around the world today. Traditionally, homes are heated by gas furnaces or boilers, which burn gas to heat homes and provide hot water. Heat pumps differ in that they aren’t powered by gas. Instead, they are commonly powered by electricity and will transfer thermal energy from one place to another. 

Overall, there are many reasons to consider installing a heat pump in your home, particularly when compared to the more conventional gas heating system. However, one of the main concerns is how long a heat pump will last. Does it require more servicing than a traditional heating system, and will you need to replace it more frequently? 

As heating and cooling specialists, we get a lot of customers asking these same questions. Consequently, we’re breaking things down and explaining how long heat pumps typically last, along with all over major concerns to know about:

 

What’s the average lifespan of a heat pump?

 

A lot of different factors come into how long your heat pump will last:

• The type of heat pump you own
• Where the heat pump is placed
• Where you live
• How well the heat pump has been maintained

Having said that, your heat pump could last anywhere between 15-25 years. A big factor is a technology used in your heat pump. If you’ve had it installed recently, then it should push the latter end of that time scale before it needs to be replaced. This is simply because modern technology has dealt with some previous issues that restricted the lifespan of heat pumps. 

Even so, 15 years for a heating system is still very impressive – particularly when considering that oil or gas furnaces can only last for up to 12 years in most cases. If you have a slightly older heat pump, it will still be usable for longer than a very well-maintained traditional heating system. 

Naturally, your location does have a sizeable impact on heat pump longevity. If you are likely to experience a lot of bad weather, damage can be done to the outdoor coil of the heat pump. This can happen a lot in winter where frost is known to build up on it, making it harder for the heat pump to provide heat. Plus, high winds can blow a lot of dirt into the pumps, further preventing them from working efficiently and causing them to break down sooner. 

With that in mind, people living in more mild climates with less adverse weather conditions tend to be the ones that see their heat pumps last for much longer than most. 

However, heat pump maintenance is definitely the biggest factor in determining how long yours will last. If you do not have a good maintenance routine and neglect your pump, it will not last anywhere near the average – even on the lowest end of the scale. Some people will need to replace heat pumps in under 10 years because they are so poorly maintained. 

 

How do you maintain heat pumps?

Understanding how to look after your heat pump is essential to make it last for as long as possible. In this section, we’ve provided our expert tips to help you do just that:

• Clean your heat pump regularly – Once a month, or once every couple of months, make sure you clean your heat pump thoroughly. This includes cleaning the fans and foils, along with the system’s supply. Forgetting to clean these parts of a pump can lead to a lot of dirt and dust clogging up different components, stopping the machine from working efficiently. In turn, this means the pump has to work harder than normal, putting more strain on all the mechanisms and leading to an early demise. 
• Swap dirty filters – The filter is a critical part of your heat pump as it serves to stop dust and dirt from getting inside and causing havoc. They work really when, but over time they become dirty and stop working properly. As such, you need to replace dirty filters (or give them a clean) so they do their job correctly once more. It’ll prevent dirt from entering your heat pump and leading to issues. 
• Clean the area around your heat pump – The outdoor unit of your heat pump could become a cause for concern. If plants or weeds are growing close by, you need to remove them before they block or cling to the unit. Therefore, regularly cleaning and maintaining the outdoor area around your pump is essential. 
• Book a yearly servicing – It’s a good idea to book your heat pump in for servicing at least once per year. Some people opt to do this twice; once before winter and once before summer, where the pump is likely to be used the most. But, an annual service will be enough to have your heat pump checked by professionals, ensuring everything works fine. Here, any minor repairs can be made, meaning your heat pump lasts for longer than it would’ve. 

 

What are the benefits of heat pumps?

One of the major benefits of a heat pump is that it can last for considerably longer than a conventional heating system. It all depends on how well you maintain the unit, but you could push the newer models to last for over 20 years before they should be replaced. 

Another key advantage is that heat pumps move heat instead of generating it, making them far more efficient than other home heating systems. Consequently, you can use less energy each month, saving a fortune on your ongoing energy bills. 

If you’re interested in learning more about heat pumps and how they can benefit your home – or you want advice on how to maintain a unit and make it last longer – contact Air Ace today. We’re more than happy to answer any questions and help you find the ideal heating and cooling system for your home.