HVAC Troubleshooting

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How to Clean Heat Pump Coils

Your heat pump system has two coils – indoor and outdoor; or the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. Along with other system components, these two coils work together in the refrigeration cycle that heats and cools your home.

While you might attempt to learn how to clean coils on a heat pump yourself, we recommend hiring an HVAC professional to inspect and clean your heat pump system.

That’s because your HVAC system is a high-tech system and should only be serviced by trained professionals. You could inadvertently damage your system. In addition, hiring a professional is better for your safety and does not void your warranty. If your unit is still under warranty, certain DIY maintenance can void the warranty.

How do I know if my heat pump coils are dirty?

Heat pump evaporator coils are sealed inside the indoor air handler cabinet. Condenser coils are inside the outdoor heat pump. These coils are spine fin coils that are wrapped around the unit, and you can see them when you look at the heat pump.

Dirty coils can cause noticeable problems, including

Reduced energy efficiency
Decreased comfort
Increased energy bills

These problems can be caused by different issues, so your best bet is to call your local HVAC company to perform maintenance, which includes inspecting and cleaning the coils.

How to clean the condenser coil on a heat pump system

Again, we recommend that you have an HVAC technician perform heat pump maintenance in the spring and fall. They will thoroughly inspect and clean your system, including coils.

But there are a few things you can do without opening the outdoor unit.

Keep the area around the unit clear

You can help keep your condenser coil cleaner by keeping flowers, shrubs, and vines at least two feet away from the unit on all sides. Remove any leaves, twigs, oak pollen clumps, cottonwood fuzz, etc. that land on the top of the unit. Consider adding a WeatherGuard™ top to protect the inner workings of your heat pump.

When you mow the lawn, if you’re using a side discharge mower, mow in a way such that the grass is discharged AWAY from the heat pump.

Spray the condenser coil from outside the cabinet

You can also use a garden hose to gently spray the condenser coil from the outside. Don’t use the jet setting or a power washer, because the force of the water can bend or damage the fins.

How to clean the evaporator coil on a heat pump system

Don’t touch the evaporator coil and leave cleaning to HVAC professionals.

Why? Because your HVAC system has some high-voltage components, and you could easily damage the system rather than solve a problem. In addition, if your system is under warranty, DIY maintenance can void the warranty.

Again, for best results, let the pros handle cleaning the evaporator coil during a heat pump maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take.

Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box.
Remove the access panel.
Inspect the coil for dust and debris.
Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible.
If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use a chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them.
Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks.
Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line, and remove any clogs.
Replace the drain pan if it’s damaged.
Replace the access panel.
Turn the HVAC system back on.

Keep your heat pump running smoothly with regular maintenance

You can help keep your heat pump running at peak performance by giving it a little TLC. This includes changing the HVAC air filter every 1-3 months, depending on the quality of the filter. Refer to our HVAC air filter maintenance guide for some tips.

Schedule professional HVAC maintenance in the spring and fall. Consider signing up for a maintenance plan for convenience and perks. Finally, if you have a Trane smart thermostat, think about opting in to Trane Diagnostics. This allows your Trane dealer to remotely monitor your HVAC system.

They get alerts if there’s an issue, sometimes before you know there’s a problem. This can help keep heat pump repair costs down and give you peace of mind.

Anne Fonda, Content Writer at Trane Technologies

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

Expert review by Kimberly Sexton, Senior Systems Engineer