How to Replace a Heat Pump Coil

The heat pump of an air conditioner comes with two heat pump coils to provide efficient heating in winters. Both heat pump coils are made of copper tubing and are enclosed by aluminum fins. Among the two coils, one distributes cooling and is located either in the furnace or the air-handler unit alongside the fan. The other is located outside the house, encased in a big metal device and is used to dispose the collected heat. Here is how to replace a heat pump coil.

Step 1. Reaching the Coil

The first thing to remember is to turn the heat pump off by either switching off the power supply or simply pulling the plug. To unscrew the cover of the heat pump, you will need to remove the screws on its side. There are about 8 to 12 screws, depending on the kind of heat pump and its size. You might find that the heat pump has also been sealed off using metal tape. This will need to be taken off as well.

You will be able to see the coils immediately, but before you take any steps, it is important to remove the fan motor’s wires from the capacitor. Capacitors tend to store some energy and without removing these wires, you might get a shock.

Some heat pumps may have a panel protecting the coils. These panels need to be removed before you start on the heat pump coils.

Step 2. Removing the Coil

All coils sit on a drip pan, used for condensation. In good quality heat pumps, this drip pan is made of plastic to avoid corrosion. You need to remove the coil from the heat pump body and place it separately. In most cases, the drip pump is simply placed under the heat pump coil, but if it is attached to the coil with screws, you will need to separate them completely.

Once you have separated the heat pump coil from the drip pan you are ready to replace it with a new one. The replacement coil should ideally be identical to avoid any size or positioning issues. In most cases, you can find the same coil, especially if your heat pump model is still in production.

Step 3. Closing up

After placing your new heat pump coil in place, you need to retrace your steps to shut the system. First, put the coil on the drip pan and put the pan back in its place on the heat pump. Then, re-attach the fan motor wires to the capacitor carefully, before moving on to replace the cover on the heat pump.

Once there, simply put the screws back on and with metal tape, seal the edges of the heat pump to avoid leakage. Your heat pump is ready again.

Things to Avoid

When removing the coil, always remember to turn the power off and remove the fan motor wire. You may need to use needle-nose pliers for the latter, but it is vital to do so. Make sure you do not bend any fins on the coil when replacing it into the heat pump.