4 Common Problems with Heat Pumps

If your home has a heat pump, you've likely experienced a problem that has required a repair from a Smyrna air conditioning and heating contractor. Heat pump repairs should be infrequent as long as you perform maintenance on your heat pump and get regular tune-ups. Heat pump complications can be hard to diagnose, so schedule an inspection with your HVAC technician if you can't determine the cause of the problem.

Your Heat Pump Is...

• Running Nonstop – Heat pumps may run often to regulate indoor air temperature, but leaking refrigerant, faulty insulation, a damaged compressor, an icy outdoor unit, or an undersized unit can make your heat pump run without stopping. If your heat pump is running constantly, contact your air conditioning and heating specialist so that repairs can be done to decrease the stress on your heat pump.
• Coated in Ice – Your heat pump's outdoor unit will go into defrost mode if ice begins to coat its surface during the winter months. However, defrost mode can't manage large amounts of ice or snow, so if you notice heavy layers of ice and snow on your unit, remove it by melting the ice with a water hose. The fan coils within the unit are extremely fragile, so don't use a sharp tool to remove ice on the unit.
• Blowing Cold Air in Heat Mode – If your heat pump blows cold air even though you have the system set to heat mode, a filter may be dirty or there may be a faulty valve, refrigerant charge, or compressor within the system.
• Experiencing Stifled Airflow – Your air conditioning and heating contractor may determine intermittent electricity, a faulty fan or motor, or a clogged air passage to be the source of reduced airflow. When airflow is restricted, your heat pump becomes stressed, and the problem becomes even worse in the winter if hot air becomes contained within the system, overheating essential components.

Prolonged stress on your heat pump can cause permanent damage, necessitating expensive repairs or the replacement of your whole system. Address heat pump complications quickly, and reach out to Champion Air Systems, a trusted Smyrna air conditioning and heating company.