EP277 Dirty Little Secret: Why Heat Pumps Need Deep Cleaning with Gabriel Erde-Cohen (June 2026)

Quotes from the episode: "Heat pumps can't meet their promise if they're not properly maintained." "Vacuuming the filter matters, but it is not the same thing as deep cleaning the system." "If it has a coil and a fan, we can clean it." "Electrification only works as intended when the equipment keeps working as intended." In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill talks with Gabriel Erde-Cohen, founder of We Clean Heat Pumps, about an often-overlooked part of electrification: what happens to heat pumps after installation. Gabriel shares how his Vermont-based business grew from cleaning mini-splits for a family installation company into a specialized maintenance company operating across New England and in markets around the country. His core point is simple: heat pumps cannot deliver on their promise of efficiency, comfort, durability, and healthier indoor air if they are not properly cleaned and maintained. Gabriel explains the difference between basic homeowner filter care and true deep cleaning. His team removes covers, protects the home, uses low-pressure washing, alkaline soap, enzyme treatments, and active condensate-line vacuuming to remove biological buildup, dust, debris, and biofilm from coils, fans, pans, and outdoor units. He is careful to distinguish maintenance from repair, noting that his company refers service issues back to installer partners rather than competing with them. The discussion also covers ducted and ductless systems, PTACs, ERVs, HRVs, outdoor units, heat pump water heaters, and the importance of not simply killing biological material but actually removing it from the building. The conversation broadens into the future of the industry: annual cleaning, monitoring devices, commissioning, efficiency data, installer partnerships, and the potential for maintenance standards or even a trade association. Gabriel argues that annual deep cleaning is usually the right starting point, though real-world conditions can vary widely. He also shares early observations of efficiency improvements after cleaning and emphasizes that better data will be needed to help utilities, manufacturers, and programs recognize heat pump cleaning as part of the larger electrification and indoor air quality picture Email: [email protected] Website: www.WeCleanHeatPumps.com Installer Page: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-erde-cohen-591146226/   This episode was recorded in June 2026.