Heat pump servicing
Heat pump servicing for homes and businesses in Kent
Apex offers yearly heat pump servicing for air-to-air heat pumps across Dartford, Kent and south-east London. Olly tests the refrigerant pressures and running cycles, deep cleans the coils and filters, checks the electrics and carries out F-gas leak checks, then gives you a written record for your warranty.
What's included
What our heat pump servicing includes
The same checks every visit, for homes and businesses, written up so you have a record for your warranty and, where the law asks for one, your F-gas file.
A heat pump moves heat rather than making it, so small losses add up. A coil half-blocked with dust, or a system a little short of refrigerant, still runs. It just uses more electricity for less warmth. A service finds that before you notice it on the bill.
- Performance and efficiency checks. Refrigerant pressures and temperatures measured against the maker's figures, and the heating and cooling cycles run and checked, including the defrost cycle.
- Deep clean, inside and out. Indoor and outdoor coils washed, filters cleaned, and the indoor fan and drain tray cleaned so air moves freely and the unit doesn't strain.
- Electrical inspection. Wiring, terminals, the isolator and components checked for safety, heat damage and wear.
- F-gas compliance and leak checks. Joints and valves checked for leaks, with the leak-check record the F-gas rules require on larger systems.
- Outdoor unit. Mountings, anti-vibration feet, clearances and drainage checked, leaves and debris cleared.
- Controls. Remote, wall controller, timers and app checked and set the way you use the building.
Why every year
Do heat pumps need servicing every year?
Yes, for three practical reasons, and in some cases a legal one.
- Your warranty. Daikin, Panasonic and Mitsubishi Electric all expect annual maintenance to keep the warranty valid, and can ask to see proof.
- Running costs. Dirty coils and filters make a heat pump work harder for the same warmth, which costs more and wears the compressor.
- Fewer winter breakdowns. Many failures start as a worn contact, a blocked drain or a slow leak that a service would catch in autumn.
- The F-gas rules. Systems holding refrigerant equal to 5 tonnes of CO2 or more must be leak-checked at least every 12 months. Most small home units on R32 sit below that line, but many older R410A systems with more than about 2.4kg of refrigerant are above it.
Send a photo of the outdoor unit's label and we'll book you in.
Which systems
Air source heat pump servicing for air-to-air systems
An air-to-air heat pump takes heat from the outside air and blows it into the room as warm air, then runs in reverse to cool in summer. It is the same kit most people call heat-and-cool air conditioning, so if yours does both, this is the service it needs. We look after:
- Wall, floor, cassette and ducted units in homes, garden rooms, loft conversions and offices.
- Multi-split systems, with every indoor unit cleaned and tested, not just the outdoor unit.
- Larger commercial systems, including Daikin VRV and mini VRV, with planned visits and records. See commercial air conditioning.
- Most makes: Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Panasonic, Samsung and Fujitsu, including systems we didn't fit.
Thinking of adding one? Read our guide to air-to-air heat pumps for heating and cooling. Mostly use yours for cooling? Air conditioning servicing covers the same ground with a cooling focus.
Warning signs
Signs your heat pump needs attention
Don't wait for the annual visit if you notice any of these, especially going into winter.
Weaker heat
Rooms take longer to warm up, or the air from the indoor unit feels lukewarm on a cold day.
Higher bills
The same comfort costing more than last winter usually means dirty coils or filters, or a refrigerant problem.
Ice that won't clear
Light frost that melts during a defrost cycle is normal. A block of ice on the outdoor unit is not.
New noises
Rattles, buzzing or a fan that sounds rough often start small and get worse.
Musty smell
A damp or musty smell when it starts means the indoor coil and fan need a deep clean.
Error codes or dripping
A flashing light, an error code or water running down the wall needs a repair visit, not a wait for the service.
A fault rather than a service? Book an air conditioning or heat pump repair. Older system with a major fault? Our guide on whether to repair or replace helps you weigh it up.
Cost
How much does a heat pump service cost?
Daikin's own UK guide puts a typical heat pump service at around £150 to £300, depending on the system. What moves the price for an air-to-air system:
- How many indoor units. Each one is opened, cleaned and tested.
- The type. Wall units are quickest. Cassettes and ducted units take longer to reach and clean.
- Condition. A unit that hasn't been touched in years usually needs a full deep clean first.
- Access. An outdoor unit high on a wall or on a flat roof takes more time and kit.
Tell us the make and how many indoor units you have and you get a fixed price before we book. No surprises on the day.
Between services
Looking after your heat pump
- Clean the filters every few weeks in heavy use. Most slide out from under the front panel.
- Keep the outdoor unit clear. No covers, bins, plants or stored items against it, and brush off snow.
- Leave it running steadily. A heat pump is most efficient holding a temperature, not blasting from cold.
- Expect some steam in winter. That is the defrost cycle melting frost off the outdoor coil, and it is normal.
More on keeping the bills down in our guide to running costs in heating and cooling mode.
Booking
How an annual heat pump service works
Tell us the make
A photo of the outdoor unit's label on WhatsApp tells us the make, model and refrigerant.
Pick a time
We book a visit that suits you, at home or around your business hours.
Service and test
Every check on the list, cleaned inside and out, heating and cooling run and measured.
Written record
You get the readings, leak-check results and any advice, ready for your warranty file.
Apex is an F-gas certified company, REFCOM certificate REF1017376. Olly does the work himself and explains anything he finds in plain words.
Reviews
“Left the unit looking clean and refreshed”
Word for word from Checkatrade and Google.
Olly came to service our Air conditioning unit he was punctual, polite and left the unit looking clean and refreshed and gave us tips on how to keep the unit maintained. Would highly recommend!
First class service! Ollie is very knowledgeable, provided a thorough service and deep clean of all our units and fixed a leak.
Wonderful Service, Our Air Conditioner was leaking in winter and since then left in very bad condition. Then, Olly did magic and it's now up and running like a new. He did cleaned it thoroughly through low pressure jet and liquid detergent. Tested whole system to identify other faults. He was reasonable in price compared to other service provider. Highly Recommend him for right service and right guidance.
Questions
Heat pump servicing FAQs
How often should a heat pump be serviced?
Once a year. Book it in late summer or autumn so it is running at its best before the heating season. A heat-and-cool heat pump works through summer and winter, so it gets more hours than a boiler or a cooling-only unit. Busy commercial systems may need a visit every six months.
How long does a heat pump service take?
About an hour for a single system with one indoor unit. Multi-split systems take longer because every indoor unit is cleaned and tested, and ducted or commercial systems take longer again. We tell you how long to allow when we book, based on the make and the number of indoor units.
Can I service my heat pump myself?
You can do the simple jobs: clean the indoor filters every few weeks when it is in heavy use, and keep leaves, snow and clutter away from the outdoor unit. Anything on the refrigerant side, including pressure readings and leak checks, must by law be done by an F-gas certified engineer working for a certified company.
Does a service keep my warranty valid?
It is usually a condition of it. Daikin says a warranty is only valid if annual maintenance is carried out, Panasonic requires annual maintenance records, and Mitsubishi Electric makes yearly servicing a warranty condition. We give you a written record after each visit to keep with your paperwork.
Do you service air-to-water heat pumps with radiators?
This page is about air-to-air heat pumps: the heat-and-cool systems that warm a room by blowing warm air. Air-to-water systems heat radiators and a hot water cylinder. If you have one, send us the make and model and we will tell you honestly whether it is something we can look after.
Is my air conditioning a heat pump?
If it heats as well as cools, almost certainly. It is an air-to-air heat pump: it moves heat out of the room in summer and into it in winter. HMRC's own guidance says most air conditioning units are air source heat pumps. How air-to-air heat pumps work.
Book a heat pump service
Tell us the make if you know it and how many indoor units you have.
Quickest way to a price: send on WhatsApp
- A photo of the room and the outside wall
- Your town and what you need
- For a repair, the unit's label and any error code
Free survey and a fixed written quote for new systems. No obligation.