How Often Should an Air Source Heat Pump Be Serviced?

An air source heat pump should be serviced once a year — every 12 months. An annual service keeps your heat pump running efficiently, keeps your manufacturer's warranty valid, and catches small faults before they turn into winter breakdowns. Some manufacturers set their own intervals, so it's always worth checking your paperwork - but for the vast majority of homes, once a year is the rule.

Below we explain why annual servicing is the standard, the best time of year to book, whether brand-new heat pumps need a first-year service, and the handful of situations where you might need servicing more often.

How often should an air source heat pump be serviced? The short answer

Once every 12 months. That's the interval recommended by heat pump manufacturers and the industry, and it's usually what your warranty requires too.

It doesn't matter whether you have a monobloc (all-in-one outdoor unit) or a split system — the annual rule applies to both. The only common exceptions are high-use or commercial installations, and heat pumps in harsher environments, which can benefit from being checked more often (more on that below).

Why once a year?

A yearly service exists to protect four things:

• Efficiency. Filters clog, glycol weakens, settings drift. A service restores lost performance so you're not quietly overpaying to run the system.

• Your warranty. Most manufacturers require documented annual servicing to keep cover valid.

• Reliability. Small issues get caught and fixed before they cause a breakdown — usually in the middle of winter when you need heat most.

• Safety and lifespan. Electrical connections, pressures and safety devices are checked, and a well-maintained heat pump simply lasts longer.

Twelve months is the sweet spot: long enough to be practical, short enough that nothing has time to quietly go wrong.

When is the best time of year to service a heat pump?

Late summer or early autumn is ideal — before the heating season starts.

Booking in September or October means any issue is found and fixed while it's cheap and easy, rather than during a cold snap when your heat pump is working hardest and engineers are at their busiest. Service in the shoulder season and you go into winter with a system you can rely on.

If your heat pump was installed in, say, spring, it's fine to fall into an autumn service pattern from then on — the key is simply keeping to a roughly 12-month rhythm.

Do brand-new heat pumps need a service in the first year?

Yes. Your first service should happen around 12 months after commissioning, and it's one of the most important ones. It confirms everything installed correctly is still performing as it should, and — crucially — it starts the documented service history your warranty depends on. Skipping the first-year service is one of the easiest ways to accidentally undermine your cover from day one.

Could my heat pump need servicing more often than once a year?

For most homes, annual is enough. But you may want a more frequent check-up if:

• Your heat pump works especially hard — a large or poorly insulated property, or heavy hot water demand.

• It's a commercial or high-usage installation.

• You're in a coastal, dusty or exposed location where the outdoor unit collects more salt, grit or debris.

• The system is older, or you've had reliability issues in the past.

If any of these apply, it's worth asking a specialist whether a six-monthly check makes sense for your setup.

What should I do between services?

A little owner housekeeping goes a long way between annual visits:

• Keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves, snow and debris, with good airflow all around it.

• Glance at your system pressure gauge now and then.

• Listen out for new noises and keep an eye out for error codes.

• Give the unit a clear path — don't stack anything against it.

None of this replaces a professional service, but it helps your heat pump run well in the meantime — and flags anything that needs attention sooner.

The simplest way to never miss a service — Renewable Helpline plans

The hardest part of annual servicing isn't the service itself — it's remembering to book it, every single year. That's exactly what our plans take off your plate. Renewable Helpline is a specialist air source heat pump maintenance service, and our plans are service and maintenance agreements (not insurance) that keep your heat pump looked after automatically:

• Essential Care — from £15/month: your annual ASHP service, handled by specialists, plus support when you need it.

• Complete Care — £18/month (most popular): everything in Essential Care, with your hot water cylinder covered too.

With either plan your yearly service is booked and done, your warranty stays protected, and there's an ASHP expert on the end of the phone whenever you need one. Plans are for mainland UK private domestic properties, with a 12-month minimum term.

Never miss a service again. Call 0800 135 7663, or email hello@renewablehelpline.co.uk — and we'll set your annual servicing on autopilot.

Frequently asked questions