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Before the first cold snap

Your heat pump winter checklist

A few checks now can make heating season easier. Keep this list with your equipment manual and service contact.

By Maine Heat Pumps · Reviewed October 3, 2026

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Start with your exact model’s manual. Follow its safety instructions, care methods, and clearances. Ask your installer about anything unclear.

1. Check indoor airflow

Find the owner’s manual and review heating controls and the filter-care schedule.
Inspect accessible filters; clean or replace them only as the manual directs. Let washable filters dry fully.
Move furniture and curtains away from indoor airflow paths; keep supply and return grilles clear.

2. Look around the outdoor unit

Check for leaves, vegetation, and other airflow obstructions from a safe position. Keep the manual’s clearances.
Ask the installer about snow drifts, roof runoff, and drainage concerns before winter; recheck the area after storms.
Review normal defrost behavior in the manual. Persistent ice, a blocked fan, or recurring faults need service; do not chip ice or pour hot water onto the unit.

3. Confirm the heating and service plan

Confirm how closed bedrooms, remote rooms, and spaces with plumbing will stay warm.
Review any supplemental-heat settings with the installer. There is no universal temperature for switching systems.
Arrange professional care on the manufacturer’s schedule. Keep the service contact handy and review your outage plan; heat pumps need electricity.

Keep these details handy

Service contact: __________________________________________
Next filter check / service: __________________________________

General homeowner education; this checklist does not replace your manual or a professional assessment. Sources: Efficiency Maine: user tips ↗ and homeowner FAQs ↗. More detail: Maine winters and maintenance.
maineheatpumps.com/winter-checklist/ · Reviewed October 3, 2026