Troubleshooting a heat pump is always a challenge for homeowners due to its all-around function. Heat pumps work pretty differently than traditional air conditioners, and hence it becomes a tall order to identify why it is not pumping the hot air (or cold air in summer).
If you are also facing heat pump woes where it is not heating and toasting up your interior and taking the edge off of winter temperatures, look out for these signs.
Faulty Defrosting Regimen
The outdoor coil of a working heat pump undergoes periodic automatic defrosting. This internal heat treatment is devised to get rid of any frost accumulated on the coil. However, faulty reversing valves, controls, relays, and switches can disrupt this automatic defrosting cycle. When a heat pump doesn’t run the defrosting cycle, the light ice buildup turns into a thick layer that can take a hit on the primary heating function of the pump.
If your area has been experiencing sub-zero temperatures and your heat pump stops heating, you should call for heating repair in Stamford, CT. They will inspect the unit and promptly determine if heating is stopped due to faulty defrosting.
Inadequate Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant circulating within the evaporator coils of the heat pump delivers heat to your interior. However, these refrigerant levels can drop due to leakages in old units. Excessive corrosion can also lead to refrigerant leakage within the heat pump. When a heat pump doesn’t have the prescribed level of refrigerant circulating through it, it can’t dissipate the required heat.
If you notice that your heat pump is taking longer to heat a given area than before, the low refrigerant level might be the reason behind it. Get your heat pump inspected by professionals, get the leakage fixed, and have the evaporator coils refilled with refrigerant.
Problem with the Outdoor Unit
Many times a heat pump and its evaporator coil are working fine. However, the unit still fails to deliver the required warm air. This usually happens when its often-overlooked outdoor unit is not in the best working condition. For instance, excessive dirt and dust buildup within the unit (due to its exposure to open air and environment) and twisted and warped fan blades can significantly drop the outdoor unit’s efficiency.
Also, snow accumulation in front of the outdoor unit vent can affect its performance.
Dirty Air Filters
If you can hear the regular hum of the heat pump and its compressor and there is no refrigerant leakage or outdoor unit issue, dirty air filters might be the culprit behind an out-of-order heat pump. Dirty air filters can block the airflow towards the evaporator coil that is actually responsible for heating the air coming out in your interior.
Celco Heating and Air Conditioning is a reliable contractor for all HVAC services and repairs in Stamford, CT. Our experts are equipped to troubleshoot and service all sorts of heat pumps. They can promptly tell why your heat pump is not working, along with providing a reliable fix for the given issue.
Schedule service with Celco Heating and Air Conditioning today.