Heat Pump Maintenance

Your heat pump works hard all year to heat and cool your home, so it requires regular maintenance to stay in peak condition. We provide expert, bi-annual heat pump maintenance to homeowners in Ten Mile, TN to ensure year-round reliability.

CALL NOW
Call (423) 800-2029

Top Heat Pump Maintenance Contractor in Ten Mile, TN

Affordable AC & Service delivers the most thorough heat pump maintenance in Ten Mile. As a veteran-owned company serving our community since 1989, we know that consistent care is key to system longevity. Because your heat pump runs year-round, we recommend two tune-ups per year: one in the spring to prepare for cooling and one in the fall to prepare for heating. Our maintenance service improves efficiency, prevents costly breakdowns, and extends the life of your unit. We offer free estimates and back any necessary repairs with our 5-year labor warranty. Trust our dedicated technicians to keep your all-in-one comfort system running smoothly season after season.

CALL NOW
Call (423) 800-2029

Friendly and on time fix my problem quickly gave me a great deal. I’ll recommend this company to anyone.

Brittney Ewing
July 28, 2025
google

The best I definitely recommend them to everyone. And they are very reasonably priced. My elderly father is on oxygen and has health problems. And when his AC stopped working these wonderful people were fast in responding to get it back up and running properly. Thank you guys so much

KiKe
July 25, 2025
google

The staff is nice and respectful their prices are reasonable and the tech is very knowledgeable. And the tech was very patient and respectful when explaining what I needed done. I had called because my AC had stopped working, and it was getting too hot for my children and within 2 hours they had already sent a tech to my house and got my AC working again for a reasonable price. Thank you guys so much. I don't know what we would have done. You guys are the best I will definitely recommend you to anyone. God bless

Ramona
July 25, 2025
google

My AC hadn’t been working for the past few days. We quoted 2 different companies and they were unreasonably priced. Finally when I contacted Affordable they were able to come out that same day. They were so nice and understanding of mine and my husband’s financial situation and were able to replace our unit the following day for a reasonable price. 10/10 would recommend!

Michelle Maria
July 25, 2025
google

When and where

Cat Ladybug
May 6, 2025
google

They were very professional, through, and dependable. They even followed up with us after the service . We would highly recommend.

Kathy Matheson
April 24, 2025
google

This company is very affordable very reliable. They definitely have excellent prices and a great staff. The technicians are very professional and informational. I am very satisfied with the work they do. And would recommend the company to anybody.

Katelyn Mejias
November 12, 2024
google

This company is truly affordable and awesome! When we are ready for a new unit we will be using them. Our a/c went out right before the extreme heat wave. We are new to the area, saw this company online, called and Bobby came out the next morning. He found the issues, fixed them, set us up for service schedule, but most importantly-did not price gouge us nor try the whole "You need a new unit now" salesman stuff as it was not needed at this time. He was extremely informative-told us what to do going forward. Bobby-you saved us big time! THANKS!!!

Teri Apgar
October 15, 2024
google
Ginger Carver
August 26, 2024
google

My wife and I have an AirBnB on the lake and use affordable ac for anything HVAC. We just had a recent duct cleaning with them and the technician was on time and did an amazing job as always! He cleaned the ducts, sanitized and fogged system and even got rid of some bad smell that randomly appeared. My wife and I are always pleased with affordable ac’s work. We definitely would recommend them to anyone.

Jacob Johnson
June 27, 2023
google

I was very impressed on how professional and knowledgeable, they were. They were on time, and the quality of work was excellent and they had best price i came across after calling 2 previous companies. I would recommend Affordable AC & Service to anyone. I give them a 5 star rating!

Maritza Mejias
June 24, 2023
google

Heat Pump Maintenance Service in Ten Mile, TN

Professional maintenance is absolutely critical for a heat pump system. Unlike a separate furnace and air conditioner, a heat pump runs throughout the year, accumulating wear and tear during both the heating and cooling seasons. This constant operation makes regular service essential for its performance and longevity. At Affordable AC & Service, we recommend a bi-annual maintenance schedule to properly care for your system. We perform a cooling tune-up in the spring and a heating tune-up in the fall. This ensures your heat pump is always ready for the demands of the upcoming season.

During our spring maintenance visit, we focus on preparing your heat pump for the summer cooling season. Our technicians will thoroughly clean the outdoor condenser coils, which is crucial for the system’s ability to release heat and cool efficiently. We will inspect the indoor evaporator coil and clean it if necessary. We also check the refrigerant charge, as an incorrect level can drastically reduce cooling efficiency and damage the compressor. The condensate drain line is cleared to prevent clogs that can cause water damage. This targeted service ensures your heat pump is ready to perform as an efficient air conditioner.

In the fall, our maintenance visit shifts focus to the system’s heating capabilities. We inspect and test the reversing valve, which is the component that allows the heat pump to switch from cooling to heating mode. We also test the defrost cycle controls. The defrost cycle is crucial for winter operation, as it prevents ice from building up on the outdoor coil, which would stop the unit from heating effectively. We inspect all electrical components and check the supplementary electric heat strips to ensure they are ready to provide backup heat on the coldest days.

Both of our seasonal tune-ups include a comprehensive list of checks that are vital for the health of your heat pump. We inspect and tighten all electrical connections to ensure safety and prevent system failures. We lubricate motors and moving parts to reduce friction and wear. We test capacitors and relays to ensure the system can start and run properly. The thermostat is checked for proper calibration and operation. We will also check your air filter and replace it if needed, as good airflow is fundamental to a heat pump’s performance.

A clean system is an efficient system. Beyond cleaning the coils, we also clean the fan blades on the outdoor unit and inspect the indoor blower wheel. Removing the buildup of dirt and grime allows these components to move air more effectively and with less effort. This not only improves your home’s comfort but also reduces the amount of energy the system consumes. Lower energy consumption means lower monthly utility bills, and the savings can often cover the cost of the maintenance plan itself over the course of a year.

Regular maintenance also serves as a crucial preventative measure. During our inspections, our trained technicians can identify wearing parts or potential issues before they lead to a major breakdown. It is far more convenient and less expensive to replace a small, wearing component during a scheduled maintenance visit than it is to pay for an emergency repair when your system fails completely. This proactive approach significantly enhances the reliability of your heat pump, giving you peace of mind that your system will be there for you when you need it.

Investing in our bi-annual maintenance plan is the smartest way to protect your heat pump. This consistent care will extend the lifespan of your unit, delaying the need for a costly replacement. It also ensures you meet the maintenance requirements needed to keep your manufacturer’s warranty valid. As a family-operated business dedicated to our Ten Mile neighbors, our goal is to keep your system running at its best for as long as possible. Trust Affordable AC & Service for expert heat pump maintenance.

CALL NOW
Call (423) 800-2029

Energy Efficiency Focus

We help you lower energy bills with properly sized and installed systems.

Financing Available

Call us for financing options to make your HVAC repairs and installations more affordable.

Free Estimates

We offer free, no-obligation quotes so you can make informed decisions.

Need Emergency Heat Pump Maintenance? We’re Available 24/7!

CALL NOW
Call (423) 800-2029

Protect Your HVAC System with an Affordable Maintenance Plan

The most effective strategy to avoid unexpected and expensive heat pump repairs is a commitment to regular, professional maintenance. Our bi-annual maintenance plan is specifically designed to prevent the common issues that lead to system failures. By having a technician inspect, clean, and tune your system twice a year, you can catch and resolve small problems before they escalate. This preventative care is the key to a reliable, long-lasting heat pump. It saves you from the stress and expense of emergency breakdowns and ensures your home remains comfortable all year long.

View Plans Call Now
View Maintenance PLans call (423) 800-2029

Common Heat Pump Maintenance Questions

Because a heat pump provides both heating and cooling, its maintenance needs are unique. To help our Ten Mile customers understand how to best care for their versatile systems, we have answered some of the most common questions about professional heat pump maintenance.

A heat pump needs to be serviced twice a year because, unlike a furnace or a standalone air conditioner, it operates year-round. In the summer, it functions as your air conditioner, and in the winter, it reverses its operation to provide heat. This constant use means it accumulates double the run time and wear and tear of a typical HVAC appliance that only runs for one season. Servicing it just once a year would mean that by the time the second season of use rolls around, the unit has not been inspected or cleaned for many months of heavy operation.

The two tune-ups are tailored to the specific demands of the upcoming season. The spring service focuses on the cooling components. We clean the coils that release heat, check refrigerant levels critical for cooling, and clear the condensate drain that manages summer humidity. This ensures the unit is ready to perform efficiently as an air conditioner. The fall service focuses on the heating components. We test the reversing valve that switches the unit to heat mode, check the defrost controls that are vital for winter operation, and inspect the backup heating elements.

By performing maintenance twice a year, we can ensure that your heat pump is always operating at peak efficiency and reliability for the season ahead. This approach prevents the dirt and grime from the cooling season from hindering performance during the heating season, and vice versa. It allows us to catch potential problems before they lead to a breakdown, whether it is on the hottest day of summer or the coldest night of winter. This bi-annual schedule is the industry-standard best practice for protecting your heat pump investment.

While both our spring and fall heat pump maintenance visits include a comprehensive check of the system’s core components like the blower motor, electrical connections, and filter, they each have a distinct focus tailored to the upcoming season. The spring maintenance visit is all about preparing your heat pump for its job as an air conditioner. The primary focus is on ensuring it can effectively remove heat from your home. Our technicians will thoroughly clean the outdoor coil, as this is where the system releases the heat absorbed from inside your house. A clean coil is crucial for efficient cooling.

During the spring visit, we also pay close attention to the refrigerant charge and the condensate management system. An accurate refrigerant level is vital for cooling performance, and we will make sure it meets the manufacturer’s specifications. We will also clean and flush the condensate drain line to ensure the moisture removed from your home’s air can drain away properly, preventing water backups and potential property damage. These steps are all geared toward maximizing the system’s cooling efficiency and reliability throughout the hot summer months.

The fall maintenance visit, conversely, prepares the system for its heating duties. A key task is to test the reversing valve, the component that enables the heat pump to switch from cooling to heating mode. We also perform a detailed check of the defrost control board and sensors. The defrost cycle is critical for preventing the outdoor coil from freezing up in cold, damp weather, which would stop it from heating your home. We also inspect and test the system’s auxiliary heat strips to ensure you have a reliable backup heat source for the coldest winter days.

The benefits of regular, bi-annual heat pump maintenance are substantial, impacting your system’s efficiency, reliability, and lifespan. The most significant benefit is improved energy efficiency. Because a heat pump runs year-round, keeping it clean and well-tuned is critical for managing your energy bills. A clean system with the correct refrigerant charge and proper airflow uses significantly less electricity to heat and cool your home. These energy savings can easily pay for the cost of the maintenance plan over the course of a year.

Another major benefit is enhanced reliability and the prevention of costly repairs. During a tune-up, our technicians can identify and address wearing parts or potential issues before they cause a complete system breakdown. This proactive approach saves you from the inconvenience and high cost of an emergency repair when you are relying on your system for comfort. You gain peace of mind knowing your system is far less likely to fail during extreme weather.

Finally, consistent maintenance directly contributes to a longer lifespan for your heat pump. The year-round operation puts a lot of stress on the system’s components, especially the compressor. Regular cleaning, lubrication, and calibration reduce this wear and tear, helping your heat pump last for its full intended service life of 15 years or more. Neglecting maintenance can cause a system to fail years prematurely. Protecting your investment, saving money on utilities and repairs, and ensuring reliable comfort are the key reasons why maintenance is so essential.

Servicing your heat pump only once a year is better than not servicing it at all, but it is not sufficient to properly care for a system that runs all year long. If you only have it serviced in the spring before the cooling season, for example, it will run all summer long, accumulating dirt and wear. Then, when it is time to switch to heating in the fall, the system will be entering its second work season without having been cleaned or inspected. The dirt from the summer can impede its heating performance, and any parts that wore down during the cooling season are at a higher risk of failing during the winter.

This lack of preparation for the second season of use leads to several negative consequences. The system will operate less efficiently, leading to higher energy bills than you would have with a properly tuned system. The risk of a breakdown during that second season is also significantly higher. A problem that could have been caught and fixed during a fall tune-up will instead be allowed to fester, potentially leading to a no-heat situation on a cold night. You are essentially leaving the system’s reliability up to chance for half of the year.

Furthermore, most manufacturers’ warranties require the equipment to be maintained according to their specifications, which for a heat pump is typically twice a year. If you only have service records for an annual visit and a part fails during the season for which maintenance was skipped, the manufacturer could potentially deny your warranty claim. Sticking to the recommended bi-annual schedule is the best way to ensure optimal performance, prevent breakdowns, keep your warranty intact, and get the full lifespan out of your hard-working heat pump.

Yes, absolutely. Professional maintenance in the fall is critical to ensuring your heat pump heats your home as effectively and efficiently as possible during the winter. One of the key tasks is cleaning the outdoor and indoor coils. Even a thin layer of dirt can act as an insulator, making it harder for the outdoor coil to absorb heat from the air and for the indoor coil to transfer that heat into your home. A thorough cleaning restores the coil’s heat transfer capabilities, directly improving its heating performance.

Another critical aspect is checking the refrigerant charge. A heat pump with an incorrect refrigerant level, whether too low or too high, will not be able to heat effectively. It can lead to a significant drop in heating capacity and efficiency. Our technicians use precise gauges to ensure the refrigerant charge matches the manufacturer’s specifications for heating mode, which can sometimes differ from the ideal charge for cooling. This precise calibration is essential for optimal winter performance.

Finally, our fall maintenance includes testing the defrost controls. In cold, humid weather, frost can form on the outdoor coil, which will stop it from absorbing heat. The defrost cycle temporarily reverses the system to melt this ice. If the defrost controls are not working properly, the unit can become a solid block of ice and will fail to heat your home. By testing and calibrating these controls, we ensure your heat pump can continue to operate effectively even on cold, damp winter days.

Heat pump maintenance shares many similarities with standard air conditioner maintenance, but it includes several additional, critical checks related to the system’s heating function. The spring tune-up for a heat pump is very similar to an AC tune-up. Both involve cleaning the outdoor coil, checking the refrigerant charge, clearing the condensate drain, and inspecting the blower and electrical components to ensure efficient cooling performance. The core tasks for preparing the system for summer are largely the same.

However, the fall tune-up for a heat pump is where the significant differences lie. This service focuses on components that a standard air conditioner does not have. The most important of these is the reversing valve, which is the part that allows the heat pump to switch from cooling to heating mode. We test its operation to ensure it can make the switch reliably. We also perform a detailed check of the defrost control board, sensors, and cycle, which are essential for winter operation but are not present in a standard AC unit.

Furthermore, the fall heat pump maintenance includes an inspection and test of the auxiliary heating system. This is typically a set of electric resistance heat strips located in the indoor air handler. These strips provide backup heat when it is too cold outside for the heat pump to work efficiently. We ensure these strips are working correctly so you have a reliable heat source on the coldest days. These extra steps related to the heating and defrost cycles are what make heat pump maintenance more comprehensive than standard AC maintenance.

The defrost cycle is a normal and essential function of a heat pump during its winter heating operation. When your heat pump is heating your home, the outdoor coil becomes very cold as it absorbs heat from the surrounding air. In cold and humid conditions, this can cause frost or ice to form and build up on the surface of the outdoor coil. If this ice is allowed to accumulate, it will block airflow across the coil, preventing it from absorbing heat. This will cause the heat pump’s performance to drop dramatically, and eventually, it will stop heating your home altogether.

To prevent this, heat pumps are equipped with a defrost control system. This system uses sensors to monitor the temperature of the coil and the outdoor air. When it detects that significant frost has formed, it will automatically initiate the defrost cycle. During this cycle, the heat pump temporarily switches itself back into cooling mode. This sends hot refrigerant gas through the outdoor coil, quickly melting the frost and ice. At the same time, the system turns on your auxiliary heat strips inside to prevent cold air from blowing into your home during the brief cycle.

The defrost cycle typically lasts for only a few minutes. You might notice that the fan on the outdoor unit stops spinning, and you may see a cloud of steam rising from the unit as the ice melts, which is completely normal. Once the sensors indicate the ice has cleared, the system will switch back to its normal heating mode. A properly functioning defrost cycle is critical for a heat pump to work effectively in a cold, damp climate like ours in Tennessee. Our fall maintenance includes testing these controls to ensure they are working correctly.

Yes, checking the backup heating system is a critical part of our fall heat pump maintenance visit. We understand that while your heat pump will handle the heating for most of the year, the backup heat source is your safety net for the coldest days of winter. You need to be able to count on it when the temperature really drops. The most common form of backup heat in an all-electric heat pump system is a set of electric resistance heat strips, often called an “emergency heat” or “auxiliary heat” package.

During our maintenance service, our technicians will perform a full operational and safety check of these heat strips. We will check the electrical connections to the strips, ensuring they are tight and secure to prevent any electrical hazards. We test the sequencers or relays that control the heat strips to make sure they are engaging properly when the thermostat calls for auxiliary heat. We also measure the amperage draw of the heat strips to verify that they are functioning correctly and not overloading the circuit.

This thorough inspection ensures that when your system needs to call on its backup heat source, it will be ready to provide powerful and reliable warmth to keep your family comfortable. We test the emergency heat setting on your thermostat to confirm that it can manually engage the heat strips as well. Knowing that your backup heat is in perfect working order provides essential peace of mind heading into the winter season. It is a non-negotiable step in our comprehensive heat pump tune-up.

Get The Best Heat Pump Maintenance Near You

For expert, bi-annual heat pump maintenance in Ten Mile, TN, trust the experienced team at Affordable AC & Service. Call us today to schedule your tune-up and ensure your system provides reliable, efficient comfort all year long.

CALL NOW
Call (423) 800-2029