Checklists by Category
Air-source heat pump maintenance checklists
Air-source heat pump maintenance checklists for the quarterly and annual rounds: 2 free lists, 26 items and 20 photo requirements, each item naming what to look for and the photo evidence it needs. Work is commonly verified against IMC (mechanical code); the edition in force is the AHJ's call on each project.
The air-source heat pump rounds
Where each walk sits in the schedule
01quarterly
Air-source heat pump quarterly maintenance checklist
Every quarter, ideally split so one visit lands in the heating season and one in cooling, since each mode hides different faults.
Run by: The HVAC or maintenance tech on the quarterly mechanical round.
02annual
Air-source heat pump annual maintenance checklist
Once a year, best scheduled ahead of the heating season so the defrost and backup-heat sequence is proven before it is relied on.
Run by: The HVAC service tech on the annual service visit.
What most often fails on an air-source heat pump
- Only the mode of the season is tested, so a reversing valve that won't change over stays hidden until the weather flips.
- Outdoor coil looks clean from the fan side while the return face is matted with pollen and grass you can't see without pulling the guard.
- Defrost meltwater freezing into a mound at the base of the outdoor unit, heaving the pad, and written off as rain.
- Charge called good off head pressure alone with no superheat or subcooling taken, so a slow leak reads normal until capacity drops on the coldest day.
- Backup or strip heat never locked out during the test, so it quietly carries the load and masks a weak compressor.
Verified against
Families only, never clause numbers. Adoption varies by jurisdiction; confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
Common questions
5 answers
- Which air-source heat pump maintenance rounds do these checklists cover?
- Air-source heat pump quarterly maintenance checklist (quarterly): Every quarter, ideally split so one visit lands in the heating season and one in cooling, since each mode hides different faults. Air-source heat pump annual maintenance checklist (annual): Once a year, best scheduled ahead of the heating season so the defrost and backup-heat sequence is proven before it is relied on.
- Who runs the air-source heat pump maintenance round?
- The HVAC or maintenance tech on the quarterly mechanical round. The HVAC service tech on the annual service visit.
- What most often fails on an air-source heat pump?
- Only the mode of the season is tested, so a reversing valve that won't change over stays hidden until the weather flips. Outdoor coil looks clean from the fan side while the return face is matted with pollen and grass you can't see without pulling the guard. Defrost meltwater freezing into a mound at the base of the outdoor unit, heaving the pad, and written off as rain. Charge called good off head pressure alone with no superheat or subcooling taken, so a slow leak reads normal until capacity drops on the coldest day.
- Which standards is air-source heat pump work verified against?
- IMC (mechanical code), published by the International Code Council. Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Can I run these checklists in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace and load any of the 2 lists (26 items in total). The Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached, and approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.
Run these lists with the Photo Gate.
Tag one area, scan it, and the submit stays locked until the photos exist.
30-day trial · No card required