Heat Pump Cleaning
What’s hiding inside your heat pump
Your heat pump pulls in room air all day, all year. Dust, pet hair, pollen, and cooking grease stick to the filters, the coil, and the blower wheel. In the summer the coil runs cold and wet, and that dark, damp space is exactly where mold and mildew grow. The filters only catch the big stuff. Everything else builds up inside the unit, and then gets blown right back into your home.
What a dirty heat pump is costing you
Mold and musty air. Mold on the coil and blower wheel gets blown into the rooms you live and sleep in, along with dust and allergens.
Higher power bills. A clogged coil and blower move less air, so the system runs longer and works harder to heat the same room, using more electricity to do it.
Less heat when you need it. Choked airflow means weaker output, and you feel it fast on a cold Vermont night.
Wear and tear on the unit. Running hard and long strains the fan motor and compressor, which can shorten the life of an expensive system and lead to costly repairs.
Leaks and water damage. Dirt and slime clog the drain pan and line, and water ends up dripping down your wall.
Rinsing the filters doesn’t fix this. The mold and grime live deeper, on the coil and inside the blower wheel, and it takes a full deep cleaning to get them out.
Signs you’re due for a cleaning
A musty or sour smell when the unit kicks on
Black spots or buildup on the vents, louvers, or blower
Weaker airflow, or rooms that won’t reach temperature
Higher electric bills than last season
Water dripping from the indoor unit
Allergies or stuffiness that get worse when the heat pump runs
More than a year since the last cleaning (or it’s never been cleaned)
Read our heat pump maintenance guide →
Real photos from our cleanings
This is what we pull out of Vermont heat pumps that “looked fine” from the outside. If yours hasn’t been deep cleaned in a year or more, there’s a good chance it looks like this inside.
Black mold and grime flushed out of one mini-split blower wheel during a deep cleaning
Heat pump filters packed with dust and pet hair, choking airflow and driving up the power bill
Dirty runoff from a coil and blower cleaning, caught in the bag and drained into a bucket
Mold and grime building up on the louver and blower of an indoor head
Indoor head opened up and bagged so the coil and blower wheel can be fully washed without a mess
Included
Protect your home. Drop cloths go down and a cleaning bag goes up around the unit, so all the dirty water drains into a bucket, not onto your walls or floors.
Filters. Removed, washed, and dried.
Coil deep clean. The indoor evaporator coil is cleaned with a coil-safe cleaner and rinsed until the water runs clear.
Blower wheel. The part most people miss. We clean the barrel fan, where mold and black grime hide.
Drain line and pan. Cleared and flushed to prevent leaks and water damage.
Outdoor unit. Condenser coil rinsed, debris cleared, and clearance checked.
System check. We run the system, check operation, and tell you about anything we notice.
How often?
Once a year for most homes. Every 6 months for homes with pets, smokers, or heavy use.
Common questions
Is it messy? No. The unit is fully bagged and the floor is covered, so the dirt and water go into a bucket and leave with us.
Can’t I just clean the filters myself? Rinsing the filters is great between cleanings, but the mold and buildup that cause smells, weak heat, and higher bills sit on the coil and blower wheel, which you can’t reach without taking the unit apart.
Do I need to be home? We just need access to each indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Most people are home, but it’s not required.
Are you insured? Yes. Wolf Mechanical is fully licensed and insured, and EPA 608 certified.
Have a question first?
Tell us about your heat pump (brand, how many indoor units, and what’s going on) and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Or call or text 802-922-8108.