Heat pump maintenance: What is really important, how often and what does it cost
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Stefano Fonseca is an energy and environment engineer with over six years of experience in technical building equipment (TGA). He combines technical expertise with a passion for understandable communication. For more than five years, he has been writing as a freelance editor about renewable energy and sustainable living, in particular about photovoltaics and heat pumps.
Heat pumps are considered to be low-maintenance, but without complete care, they cannot be permanently efficient. If you want to benefit from low heating costs and trouble-free operation for a long time, you should keep a few points in mind. In this article, you'll learn why regular maintenance of your heat pump is more important than often thought — and what really matters.
What is part of maintaining a heat pump?
Maintaining a heat pump primarily includes visual checks, cleaning filters, testing the heat transfer fluid and, if necessary, a leak test for refrigerants. Software updates and monitoring of operating parameters also play a role. The table below provides an overview:
visual inspection
Visual inspection is the simplest but also the most important basic maintenance. This involves checking whether external damage, contamination or leaks are visible. Unusual noises or vibrating components can also indicate problems at an early stage. This check can often be carried out by yourself, but should also be carried out by a specialist company at least once a year.
filter cleaning
Filters in air or brine circuits prevent dirt from entering the system. However, over time, they can become clogged, reducing efficiency and increasing energy consumption. Cleaning or replacement is therefore crucial for smooth operation. This maintenance is required regularly, particularly with air-water heat pumps. Here, the filter should be checked every 3 to 6 months and cleaned or replaced if necessary.
Check heat transfer medium
In brine-water heat pumps, a mixture of water and antifreeze is pumped through the geothermal probes. This liquid must be tested for correct frost protection and pH value. With water-to-water heat pumps, the water quality must be regularly checked to prevent deposits or corrosion.
Tightness test
Heat pumps with fluorinated refrigerants (e.g. R32 or R410A) are subject to the F-gas regulation. Starting at a certain capacity, an annual tightness test is required by law. This involves checking whether the refrigerant is escaping — which is not only harmful to the environment, but can also lead to efficiency losses and damage.
Check heat exchanger
The heat exchanger transfers energy from the refrigerant to the heating system. Dust, dirt, or lime can hinder this process. Regular cleaning of the fins ensures that the heat transfer works optimally. This measure is particularly important for outdoor air-water heat pumps.
Check the compressor
The compressor is the heart of the heat pump. Checking for sounds, vibrations, or leaks helps identify damage at an early stage. The oil level of certain models can also be checked. A defective or overloaded compressor unit can result in high repair costs.
software update
Modern heat pumps have a digital control system, which should be updated regularly. New software versions not only improve efficiency, but also fix potential errors or expand functions. These updates are usually installed by a specialist company as part of maintenance.
Check operating parameters
Pressure, temperature, flow rates — these values provide information about whether the heat pump is working correctly. During maintenance, these operating parameters are compared with the target values and adjusted as required. In this way, deviations are identified that could indicate a problem.
How often does a heat pump need to be serviced?
A heat pump should be serviced at least once a year. Annual inspection is particularly important for air-water heat pumps, as they are installed outdoors and get dirty more quickly. Sole and water-to-water heat pumps usually require maintenance every 1 to 2 years. Systems with fluorinated refrigerants are also subject to legal test requirements and, depending on the filling volume, must be checked annually by a certified specialist company.
How much does it cost to maintain a heat pump?
Maintaining a heat pump usually costs between 150 and 350 euros per year — depending on the type of heat pump, effort and scope of work. In addition, material costs may arise, for example for new filters, sensors or antifreeze. These additional costs are usually incurred every two to three years and range between 20 and 150 euros, depending on the component.
Who can service a heat pump?
A heat pump may only be serviced by a certified specialist company if work is required on the refrigerant circuit or on electrical components. However, simple maintenance measures such as cleaning filters or visual inspection can be carried out by yourself.
Maintenance requirements for refrigerants — what is required by law?
Fluorinated heat pumps refrigerants According to the F-gas regulation, tightness must be regularly tested if the filling volume exceeds 5 tons of CO₂ equivalent. The test must be carried out by certified personnel and is mandatory annually or half-yearly, depending on the filling volume.
What happens if there is no maintenance?
Regular maintenance not only protects against failures, but also against unnecessary costs. Without maintenance, the efficiency of the heat pump decreases, electricity consumption increases and the risk of faults or expensive damage increases.
In detail, the following problems may occur:
When is a maintenance contract worthwhile?
A maintenance contract is worthwhile right away when you buy the heat pump and should, if possible, be concluded with the installer. This makes it possible to continuously optimize the heating system, meet warranty conditions and prevent failures at an early stage. The contract ensures predictable costs, automatic maintenance dates and often a preferred fault service.
Carry out maintenance yourself — what is allowed?
Some simple maintenance work on the heat pump may be carried out by yourself as long as there is no intervention in the refrigeration circuit or electronics. The following tasks are allowed for users:
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