It’s brrr…routine heat pump maintenance season. A well-maintained system can make the difference between a warm, comfortable home all winter and frustrating breakdowns during the coldest days of the year. The best way to maintain your heat pump in winter is to pay attention to the details and get ahead of any potential issues; prevention is better than troubleshooting. Take a few minutes to go through these essential heat pump maintenance tips for winter to make sure it is ready for the coldest days and nights, and hums along when you need it most. How Does A Heat Pump Work In Winter? How is a heat pump able to warm your home even when it’s freezing outside? Cold is not the absence of heat (put that on a T-shirt). Even when the air outside feels icy, it still contains thermal energy that can be extracted by the heat pump. A heat pump captures heat from the outside air and transfers it indoors to warm your home. This process continues even in very cold weather. In fact, modern heat pumps are engineered to operate even in sub-zero temperatures when there is minimal heat present in the air outside. Unlike traditional heating systems that produce heat through combustion, heat pumps simply move heat from one place to another. Because they don’t create heat but redistribute existing energy, they remain highly efficient even in winter. Why Is Your Heat Pump Not Working? How Snow And Ice Impact It When ice or snow accumulates on your heat pump, it forces the system to work harder to heat your home. This happens because snow can block airflow, limiting the heat pump’s ability to absorb heat from the outdoor air. Continuing to run the system while it’s blocked can damage its aluminum fan blades and warp them. Snow and ice buildup can also interfere with the heat pump’s defrost cycle (a process by which the heat pump melts ice on the outdoor coil). If the system can’t drain properly, moisture may refreeze, causing the unit to freeze up and reducing its overall efficiency In some cases, excessive blockage can even cause your heat pump to short circuit and shut down. Keeping your heat pump clear of snow and ice is, therefore, essential to ensure reliable performance throughout the winter. Essential Heat Pump Maintenance Tips For Winter: How To Maintain And Protect Your System Winter can be brutal for your equipment. Since a major component of your heat pump system—the condenser—remains outside your house, it is susceptible to the elements and can be damaged by excessive snow or ice. The cost of a heat pump is no joke and therefore, it’s important to exercise proper care and maintenance for your heat pump system to ensure that it’s always in tip-top shape. Here are some tips and tricks to protect and maintain your heat pump in the cold weather. Maintain Clear Space Around The Unit By the time the first snow sticks to the ground, your outdoor unit could already be surrounded by fall foliage, branches, dirt and shrubs accumulated over the previous months. In winter, this debris can trap snow around the unit, block airflow, and disrupt normal operations. To prevent any damage to your system and ensure proper performance, maintain at least 2–3 feet of clear space all around the unit. Trim back branches and bushes around your condenser, and remove leaves or other debris that may have collected there throughout the year. This is important since it makes sure the vegetation doesn’t trap any ice and disrupt the heat pump’s operation. Clean Off Ice And Snow Buildup Regularly clearing snow and ice from around the unit helps maintain proper airflow, supports effective defrosting, and keeps your heat pump operating efficiently throughout the winter. Make sure that your outdoor unit is mounted at least twelve inches above ground level so it remains above snow accumulation. At 1Click, we install all condensers at least 18 inches above the ground to ensure your heat pump’s airflow is never disrupted. Also make it a habit to clear snow and ice from the exterior of your heat pump, especially if you live in an area prone to frequent snowstorms. Take a few minutes to inspect the outdoor unit and use a shovel to clear snow from around and underneath the unit to maintain proper airflow and reduce the risk of ice buildup. Gently remove loose snow from exterior surfaces with a soft brush. Clean Your Filters Your heat pump’s filters play a really big role in keeping your home warm while maintaining healthy indoor air quality. Because heat pumps continuously circulate and filter indoor air, the filters work hard to trap dust, allergens, and other particles. To maintain proper airflow and ensure efficient operation, clean or replace your filters at least every 3 months. If you have pets or allergies, you might need to do this more frequently. How to clean your heat pump filters: If you have a ductless or mini-split system: 1. Turn off the power to the system. 2. Pop open the front panel of the indoor head and remove the washable filter. 3. Clean the filter by gently rinsing it with mild soap and water or vacuum it clean. 4. Let it dry completely before putting it back in. DO NOT operate the system with wet filters. If you have a ducted or central system: In ducted heat pump systems, the air filter is typically located either behind the return air grille (the large vent on your ceiling, wall, or floor) or inside the air handler unit, usually found in the basement or attic. 1. Turn off the system before starting. 2. Unscrew and open the return air grille. You may need a ladder to reach ceiling-mounted grilles. 3. Once the grille hinges open, remove the filter from its back. 4. Clean the filter by gently hosing it from the opposite side of airflow to push out dust and debris. 5. Allow it to dry completely. 6. Slide the filter back into place and securely close the grille. Cover Your Heat Pump To protect your heat pump from the elements—especially snow, ice and flying debris—you can go the extra mile and get a protective cover for the condenser called a snow hood. This shields your outdoor unit from snow build up, falling icicles, and debris while maintaining enough clear space around it. High-speed winds can disrupt airflow across the outdoor coil, forcing the fan to work harder and reducing heating efficiency. A wind baffle is another helpful accessory that can reduce the impact of these strong gusts and offers added protection from wind-driven rain, snow, ice, and debris. Together, the snow hood and wind baffle allow your heat pump to operate in the coldest conditions by minimizing any disruptions to the airflow and protecting key components from the winter weather. Set Your Thermostat To The Best Setting For most Canadians, winter brings skyrocketing heating bills. Your thermostat settings could be key to changing that. The temperature setting for your thermostat needs to balance comfort and efficiency. This can be achieved by keeping it within the recommended range of 21–23°C. For most homes, this temperature range ensures your system maintains perfect warmth while minimizing energy use. Best Thermostat Settings For Your Heat Pump: Avoid big, sudden increases (e.g., raising 4–5°C at once) or high settings (greater than 24°C), which can trigger your backup heating and reduce overall efficiency. Every degree above 21°C raises your energy costs by 2-2.5%. Unlike a furnace, you shouldn’t fiddle with your heat pump’s temperature too often. Constantly adjusting the heat pump temperature range makes your system less efficient. The rule of thumb is to “set it and forget it.” So, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and let it be. If you have a ductless system or mini split air conditioner: make sure all indoor heads are powered on, set to the same mode, and kept at similar temperatures. Maintaining a steady, moderate temperature helps your heat pump run smoothly, saves energy, and keeps your home consistently comfortable. Frequently Asked Questions Do heat pumps work in Canadian winters? Heat pumps work perfectly well even in Canada’s frigid winters! Modern heat pumps are designed to operate efficiently even in sub-zero temperatures by extracting thermal energy from the outdoor air and transferring it indoors. How do I maintain my heat pump in winter? To maintain your heat pump and prepare it for icy weather and snowstorms: Maintain a clear space (at least 2 feet) around the unit Regularly clean your filters Clean off any ice or snow buildup on your heat pump, especially after a snowstorm Protect your outdoor unit with a snow hood and wind baffle Set your thermostat to a temperature between 21–23°C to prevent the use of backup heat Should I cover my heat pump in winter? Yes! Just make sure you don’t restrict air flow to the condenser unit. Protecting your heat pump condenser with a snow hood is the best way to prevent excessive frost or ice buildup on your outdoor unit. For additional protection against wind and flying debris, you can also get a wind baffle. Why is my heat pump blowing cold air? If your heat pump is not heating your home and starts blowing cold air, it could be because: It hasn’t been set to HEAT mode It is in defrost mode It is low on refrigerant Your compressor is experiencing issues What are the benefits of a snow hood and wind baffles for heat pumps? Snow hoods and wind baffles protect your heat pump from snow, ice, and strong winds, improving efficiency, preventing damage, and helping the system run more reliably in winter. At what temperature does a heat pump stop working? While cold-climate heat pumps can continue to provide some heat in temperatures as low as −30°C, their efficiency can decrease when the temperature drops to between −25°C and −30°C, since there may not be enough heat in the outdoor air for it to absorb. Your backup heat may come on when this happens. Should I leave my heat pump on 24/7 during the winter? Yes! Leave your heat pump on heat mode, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature, and let it be. Heat pumps work best when allowed to maintain a steady temperature. Turning your heat pump off or large temperature swings (4–5°C at once) can increase energy usage. How often should I clean my heat pump filters? You should clean your heat pump filters at least every 3 months during the heating season. If you have pets, suffer from allergies, or see a lot of dust in your home, you may need more frequent filter maintenance. Is it okay to clean my heat pump filters myself? It’s perfectly easy and safe to clean most filters, especially in ductless or mini-split systems, since they are washable and can easily be removed and put back in. Make sure that you turn off the system first and ensure filters are completely dry before reinstalling them. What is the best thermostat setting for my heat pump in winter? For optimal comfort and efficiency, set your thermostat between 21–23°C. This range keeps your home warm while minimizing energy use and reducing reliance on backup heat. How do I defrost my heat pump? Your heat pump should automatically switch to defrost mode when needed to deal with ice or snow buildup. But heavy snowfall can disrupt this function, and you may need to manually defrost your heat pump. If there is a lot of ice on your condenser, switch the system to COOL mode for 15-20 minutes. This will “force” it to defrost. Do heat pumps need annual maintenance? While it's possible to perform some basic heat pump cleaning tasks yourself, it's best to seek a professional when your system needs a more thorough and deep heat pump cleaning. It's advised to conduct heat pump maintenance at least once a year, preferably before the winter heating season. Following these heat pump maintenance tips will make sure your system is humming away quietly even during peak blizzard season and mitigate the impact of ice and snow. Have questions about how to maintain your heat pump, or looking for more heat pump efficiency tips? Visit our Heat Pump Learning Centre to find everything you need to know about your heating system installation, or schedule a service call with us at 1 (800) 458-1289.
