Heat Pump Maintenance

inspecting heat pump water heating and maintenance

Heat Pump Maintenance in South Africa: A Homeowner’s Guide

Heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to heat water, often replacing traditional geysers or being employed as hybrid electric water heaters. In South Africa, they’re commonly used not only for household water heating but also for warming swimming pools, making them a versatile and eco-friendly solution, especially in South Africa’s varied climate. Whether you’re in Gauteng’s highveld or the coastal humidity of Durban, regular maintenance is key to ensuring your heat pump runs efficiently and lasts for years. Here’s what to inspect to keep yours in top shape.

🌡️ Clean the Air Filters and Coils

Dust, pollen, and debris can clog your heat pump’s air filters and coils, reducing efficiency and airflow. Clean or replace filters every 1–3 months, especially in areas with high dust levels or during high pollen seasons. Use a soft brush or vacuum to clean the coils and remove any buildup gently.

💧 Check for Leaks and Insulate Pipes on the Heat Pump

Inspect the refrigerant lines and water pipes for any signs of leaks or corrosion. Keep pipes properly insulated to prevent freezing during the winter months. This is especially important in colder regions such as the Drakensberg and the Free State, or where temperatures get to 3˚C or below. Leaks not only reduce efficiency but can also damage the unit over time.

🔌 Inspect Electrical Components

Turn off the power and check all electrical connections for signs of wear, corrosion, or loose wires. Faulty connections can lead to system failure or even pose a fire risk. If you’re unsure, it’s best to call a qualified technician to inspect the heat pump.

🌀 Clear the Surrounding Area around the Heat Pump

Ensure that the outdoor unit has at least the clearances shown in the diagram below on all sides. Remove leaves, grass, and debris that may obstruct airflow. Trim back any vegetation that could interfere with the unit’s operation.

heat pump maintenance - inspect you water heating

📅 Schedule Annual Professional Servicing

Even with regular DIY maintenance, it’s wise to have your heat pump professionally serviced at least once a year. A technician can check refrigerant levels, test system controls, and ensure optimal performance, especially before the peak summer or winter seasons.

By following these simple steps, South African homeowners can enjoy reliable, energy-efficient water heating all year round. Whether your heat pump supports your home’s hot water needs, warms your swimming pool, or replaces a conventional geyser, regular maintenance ensures it performs efficiently across all applications. A well-maintained heat pump not only saves money on electricity but also contributes to a more sustainable home.

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THE HOME DETECTIVE » home maintenance

29/08/201924/06/2026

Damp Walls

Damp Walls In Your Home

I posted on my blog, in November last year, about damp walls that arise as a result of not having gutters on your home to control the flow of rainwater off your roof.

On Saturday, I inspected a four-year-old property that had a one tile overhang on the roof. There were no gutters, but the house had paving surrounding it.

However, the external walls of the house were in a desperate state because of the three most destructive mistakes architects, developers, builders, and homeowners make!

As a result, I’m going to repeat some of the issues mentioned in my blog!

Damp walls caused by the lack of gutters

Gutters collect rainwater runoff from the roof through downpipes. These convey rainwater onto concrete rainwater channels away from the house in a controlled manner. In addition, they also protect the timber roof structure at the eaves of the house. Furthermore, gutters protect the house’s exterior walls, windows, and doors. They also protect the foundation from damp and potential damage.

The splashing against the walls was the most serious cause of the penetrating damp on the house walls. Moreover, the crazing cracking (spiderweb-like fine cracking) in the plasterwork was the main indicator of the penetrating damp caused by this splashing up of rainwater. Cracking was not observed higher up on the walls.

Even if your house has a reduced overhang at the eaves, gutters will still provide the required protection against heavy rain.

Insufficient roof overhang at the eaves

Roofs with no gutters and a two-tile overhang (600mm for a metal roof) or less will allow water to fall off the roof close to the walls, windows, doors, and the foundation.

13/07/201908/07/2026

Section Title Schemes

Responsibilities of Owners and Body Corporates

I do a fair amount of inspections in sectional title schemes. Often, owners ask me if body corporates will pay for repairs inside their units. Obviously, their concern is about damage caused by external factors such as rainstorms, burst geysers, and so on.

Each case is usually based on its merits. Usually, the trustees use their discretion in deciding how to allocate repair and replacement costs. However, there are many grey areas and differences between the owner’s and body corporate’s responsibilities and liabilities.

The Body Corporate’s obligations

Body corporates are responsible for the repairs, maintenance, and upkeep of the common properties.

Furthermore, the body corporate maintains all pipes, ducts, wiring, etc., for the common property and services to more than one unit.

Your obligations as an owner of a section

You must maintain your particular section. Moreover, you must also keep any part of the common property to which you have the right neat and tidy. These are exclusive-use areas such as gardens, patios, balconies, and parking areas.

20/06/201927/08/2024

Weekend Projects

Weekend Projects to Increase Resale Value

by Kay Pascale

If you’re trying to increase the resale value of your home, there are probably more than a few side projects you want to finish before putting the house on the market for all to see. While some of these, like any kind of roof maintenance, are true renovations that likely require the help and vision of an expert, there remain some weekend projects that you can complete in a single weekend. Here are a few tips to help increase the resale value of your house.

Fix Outdoor Landscaping to Improve Curb Appeal

The first thing potential buyers will see when they walk up to your home is the landscaping. Do trees and bushes look overgrown? Is the lawn too long, or are there unsightly stumps and plants littering the yard? A little prevention in the form of weeding, gardening, watering, and trimming will have the front of your house looking immaculate and inviting to potential buyers. According to Home-Dzine, your lawn is probably one of the first things someone will notice about your house. Therefore, keep your grass trimmed, remove dead branches, and plant some flowers for a pop of colour.

Clean Your Gutters

Power washing the walls and the driveway is a great way to make your home look well cared for. This allows your house to stand out in a positive way from the rest of the houses on your street. Moreover, Gutters are often overlooked when cleaning up the outside of a home because you can’t see them from ground level. But rest assured it will make a big difference.

Make Any Necessary Repairs

Repairs can easily be completed in the span of a weekend. In addition, to ensure that there are no visible red flags, have a walkthrough or seller’s inspection. This will pinpoint any areas that need to be worked on prior to selling the home. Things that may be simply annoying to you might be deal-breakers for a buyer. In particular, leaky taps, mould damage, or a faulty light switch could be the difference between that SOLD sign and spending weeks or even months languishing on the market.

30/01/201927/08/2024

High Water Bills

MY WATER BILL WENT WAY UP! HOW DO I FIND A LEAK?

Your high water bills could be due to either a temporary increase in water usage or a leak. To find out if it’s a leak, first shut off all your water-using fixtures in the house. Don’t close the shut-off valve where the water supply enters or below the pressure regulator at your house at this stage!

Take the cover off your water meter box and flip open the protective cover plate on the meter dial. Normally, your metre box will be somewhere along the front property line, often near a corner. You may have to dig down a little in the dirt to find it.

The water meter may be a newer one that has a small round or diamond-shaped low-flow indicator near the centre. The low flow indicator may be red or black like in the photo above. It should not be turning. But if it is, there’s a leak somewhere in your plumbing system increasing your water bill. At a meter without a low-flow indicator, note the meter reading or take a picture with your cell phone. Check back in an hour or so and see if it has changed.

There are several places to check if the water meter says you have water flow indicating a leak:

Leaking taps can increase your water bill

Not just the sink and basin taps! Also, check the taps at the washing machine hookup, bath, shower, and the outside hose taps.

A big problem with increasing water bills is Toilet Cisterns (tanks)

A flapper valve that doesn’t seat properly at the bottom of the cistern will cause a leak. Check the ballcock arm and overflow tube as well, it may also be defective. Drop a dye tablet (available in most hardware stores specifically for toilet testing) in the tank. Do not flush, and wait for 15 minutes. If the colour shows up in the bowl, the toilet needs repair.

TPR Valve at the Geyser

The small valve with a flip-up handle at the top or side of the geyser is called a Temperature and Pressure Release (TPR) valve. This important valve is designed to open if the water gets too hot, to keep the tank from exploding. These valves sometimes fail by opening slightly and letting loose a slow trickle of hot water. The water normally runs in a steel or copper pipe to a location at the exterior wall. Find the termination of the TPR valve and check for a drip. If it is leaking it will increase your water bill! NEVER work on these valves yourself! Only a suitably trained and experienced plumber should!