When it comes to your heat pump, all problems should be treated as important ones. There is no heat pump problem that is so small that it is worth ignoring. This is because even small problems can build up over time and turn into big ones that lead to heat pump breakdowns.
Examples of serious heat pump problems include refrigerant leaks, frozen coils, and heat pump short cycling in St. Augustine. We are highlighting common heat pump problems below, along with the signs of each one. You can keep reading to learn more about common heat pump issues and how to identify them early to prevent your heat pump from breaking down completely.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
It’s possible that the problem isn’t even with your heat pump to begin with. Instead, the problem may be with your thermostat. You may think that settings are correct when they really aren’t. Perhaps your thermostat is set to cooling mode instead of heating mode. Or maybe the temperature settings are not correct.
It’s equally possible that all of your settings are correct but your thermostat is dirty, has low batteries, or needs to be re-calibrated. In this case, our team can troubleshoot your thermostat to get down to the root of the problem and fix it, or replace your thermostat completely if it is outdated. Investing in a smart thermostat is a great way to improve energy efficiency.
Refrigerant Leaks
We also get a lot of calls about refrigerant leaks. When your heat pump doesn’t have enough refrigerant, it cannot heat or cool your home the way you want it to. As a result, your heat pump may be staying on longer or turning on more frequently in an attempt to keep your home comfortable, ultimately costing more on your monthly energy bills.
Aside from changes in heat pump output, you may also find that you hear hissing or bubbling sounds when you have a refrigerant leak. If you hear either of these sounds, we encourage you to turn your heat pump off and schedule an appointment with our team. Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous if left unaddressed.
Frozen Coils
Heat pumps face the risk of frozen coils during the winter season, especially on the outdoor portion of the unit. A traditional air conditioner doesn’t usually cycle refrigerant outside during winter because the heater is operating instead. A heat pump does have a defroster to help prevent ice from developing, but it isn’t foolproof.
It’s always possible for the defroster to malfunction and need to be fixed. This is one reason that maintenance for your heat pump is so important. Our team can often identify these problems early before they cause a chain reaction of additional issues.
Changes in Cycles
If you notice that your heat pump suddenly turns on and stays on for an extended period of time, or turns on and off at frequent intervals, that’s a red flag. Something is preventing your heat pump from heating your home up the way it should. If your heat pump is staying on for a long time, that means it is struggling to meet your heating expectations. This can happen on days that are particularly cold because there’s less heat in the air.
Short cycling means that a safety switch inside of your heat pump is triggering it to turn off before completing a heating cycle all the way through. Both of these problems can put a lot of extra wear and tear on your heat pump, causing it to wear down and break completely. If repair needs are not addressed in a timely manner, your heat pump may have a shorter expected lifespan.
Serving St. Johns County since 1988 with quality, hometown service. Schedule an appointment today for heat pump service with our team of professionals.
