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We built a free scorecard that shows how your heat pump, ventilation and solar systems are performing. Results are usually surprising.
No thanksWe built a free scorecard that shows how your heat pump, ventilation and solar systems are performing. Results are usually surprising.
No thanks
A heat pump that hasn't been properly serviced looks fine from the outside. It turns on, it moves air, it responds to the remote. What's changed is how hard it's working to do all of that, and what's growing inside it while it does.
Most Auckland homeowners who've had their unit "serviced" have had the filters washed and a coil spray applied. That takes around 20 minutes. It's not a complete service. Understanding what a complete service actually covers, and how the two service tiers differ, is the most useful thing you can know before booking anything.
This article covers the MiHT service protocol for wall-mounted and floor-mounted heat pump units, what each stage involves, what the two service tiers include, and how to tell which one your system needs. For the broader question of what proper maintenance means and why most Auckland heat pump faults trace back to skipped servicing, see heat pump maintenance Auckland. For what to check before booking any provider and why budget cleans fail, see heat pump cleaning Auckland. If you have a ducted heat pump, see our ducted heat pump servicing guide. Multi-split systems are covered in our multi-split heat pump servicing guide.
Not every heat pump needs the same level of work at every visit. MiHT offers two service tiers: a Refresh and a Restore. They share the same five-stage structure but differ in depth.
A Restore is the full service. It's the correct starting point for any wall or floor-mounted heat pump in normal residential use in Auckland, and the right choice for any unit that hasn't had a professional deep clean in the past 12 months.
A Refresh is a lighter maintenance visit. It's appropriate for a system in an unusually clean, low-use environment, or as an interim service for a unit that received a Restore within the past six months.
Most standard heat pump services in Auckland cover what we describe as a Refresh. If your unit is showing any symptoms — a persistent smell, reduced heating, a power bill that's crept up — a Refresh alone won't resolve them. It doesn't reach the internal fan or the coil at depth, which is where those problems originate.
Both services follow the same five-stage protocol: Plan, Uncover, Restore, Review, Protect.
Ready to book? MiHT services wall and floor-mounted heat pumps across Auckland. A Refresh starts at $149 inc GST. A full Restore is $249 inc GST, dropping to $189 for a second unit at the same property. Book your service online or call to confirm availability.
Plan
Every service begins before the technician arrives. The system's age, service history, and any symptoms reported by the homeowner are reviewed in advance. On arrival, the technician confirms what the visit covers and photographs the unit's condition before any work begins.
Uncover
The assessment phase. The technician checks system operation, measures airflow, and inspects accessible components before touching anything. This establishes what's actually present inside the unit: dust load, organic growth, drain condition, outdoor unit state. The service addresses what's there rather than following a generic checklist.
Restore
This is where a Refresh and a Restore diverge.
A Refresh covers:
Filter care: the filters are removed, washed, dried, and refitted. This restores normal airflow and removes the layer of particulate that builds up with regular use.
Drain flush: moisture from the cooling cycle drains through a tray and a condensate line. Both accumulate organic matter over time. Flushing the drain at each service prevents blockages that back up into the unit or cause water damage to the ceiling or wall below.
Surface hygiene: the outer casing and louvres are cleaned and sanitised.
Outdoor visual check: the outdoor unit is inspected to confirm it's secure, vents are clear, and vegetation or debris hasn't built up around it.
Operational test: the system is run in both heating and cooling modes before the technician leaves.
A Restore adds:
Internal coil deep clean: behind the filter sits a set of tightly packed metal fins. This is the component that actually heats or cools the air entering the room. Auckland's humid summers mean the unit removes large volumes of moisture during cooling mode, and that moisture passes directly across these fins. Over time, dust, organic matter and mould build up deep within the fins. The result is reduced efficiency, a stale smell, and biological matter circulating through the home every time the unit runs. During a Restore, the coil is cleaned with a low-pressure sprayer and specialist cleaning solution that breaks down the buildup from within the fins and flushes it out completely.
Internal fan clean: inside the unit, a cylindrical fan draws air across the internal coil and pushes it into the room. In Auckland's warm, damp climate, mould builds up across this fan's surface over time, often several millimetres deep in units that have never had a proper clean. This is the most common source of the musty smell heat pump owners report. During a Restore, the internal fan is pressure washed to remove the buildup at its source. A coil spray alone doesn't reach it.
Sanitisation: after the physical cleaning, a specialist cleaning solution is applied throughout the interior of the unit. This addresses any remaining mould, bacteria and odour-causing organisms. It matters particularly for households with young children, allergies, or respiratory conditions.
Outdoor unit wash: for properties close to the coast, salt-laden air deposits residue across the outdoor unit over time, blocking the fins and accelerating corrosion. During a Restore, the outdoor unit is fully pressure washed to remove salt, dirt and debris.
Performance diagnostics: temperature output is measured before and after the clean. That measurement confirms whether performance was actually recovered, not just that the filters look cleaner.
Review
After the service, the technician documents what was found, what was done, and what needs attention at the next visit. This includes before-and-after photographs of key internal components. If anything found during the Uncover stage sits outside maintenance scope (a refrigerant issue, an electrical fault, a failing component), it's recorded in the condition report with a referral to the appropriate specialist.
Protect
The Protect stage confirms the next service date and, where relevant, sets up a recurring schedule. A system on a consistent maintenance cycle degrades more slowly and is easier to service at each subsequent visit. One-off reactive servicing costs more over time than a planned care schedule.
For most Auckland homes, a Restore is the right starting point. Any wall or floor-mounted unit running through both winter and summer under normal household conditions, or one that hasn't had a full professional clean in the past 12 months, should receive a Restore.
Auckland's climate is relevant here. High summer humidity accelerates mould growth inside units, and coastal salt air deposits on outdoor units faster than in drier inland locations. The conditions that drive internal degradation are present across most of the region, not just properties directly on the water.
A Refresh is appropriate only where a system is lightly used, operates in a very clean environment, or received a Restore within the past six months. After an initial Restore, a Refresh is typically enough as an interim visit for well-maintained units. Your technician will confirm the right schedule based on what they find.
A heat pump running with a contaminated internal coil and fan works harder to move the same volume of air. The compressor runs longer to reach the temperature you've set. That's not a fault and it won't trigger any error code. It just costs more to run, every day, until the next proper service.
How a dirty heat pump affects your power bill covers what that efficiency loss looks like in practice and how it compounds over time.
Regular professional servicing also extends system life. A unit that receives consistent care will outlast one that doesn't by several years in most cases. Thorough assessments identify installation issues before they become expensive problems: poorly routed drain hoses, restricted airflow, units positioned to cause unnecessary wear.
For guidance on how often Auckland heat pumps need professional attention, see how often should a heat pump be serviced in Auckland.
A Refresh covers filters, the drain system, surface clean, outdoor visual check, and an operational test. It's the level of service most Auckland providers offer as standard. A Restore includes all of that plus a deep clean of the internal coil and internal fan, sanitisation, a full outdoor unit wash, and before-and-after performance testing. A Restore is the correct service for any heat pump in normal residential use.
Plan covers pre-visit review and arrival documentation. Uncover is the assessment before any cleaning begins. Restore is the cleaning and treatment work, with depth varying by tier. Review documents findings, before-and-after photos, and any referrals outside maintenance scope. Protect confirms the next service date and sets up the maintenance schedule.
In most cases, yes. Auckland's high summer humidity accelerates mould growth inside units, and coastal salt air deposits on outdoor units faster than in drier, inland locations. Annual servicing is the appropriate minimum for most Auckland homes, with some households benefiting from a service every six months.
A Refresh typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. A Restore takes one to one and a half hours. A visit that wraps up in under 20 minutes hasn't covered the full system.
A properly completed service includes before-and-after photos of internal components, a written record of what was found and done, and a confirmed schedule for the next visit. If those weren't provided, the depth of work done is unknown.
This article covers wall-mounted and floor-mounted units only. Ducted heat pump servicing involves different procedures and is covered in our ducted heat pump servicing guide. Multi-split systems are covered in our multi-split heat pump servicing guide.
By the way, if you want to know where your heat pump actually stands before booking anything, the Home Energy Health Assessment takes three minutes and gives you a clear picture of what your system needs.