It’s time to hire a professional to fix your home’s heat pump, but where do you begin? There are several things you can try to diagnose and fix the problem yourself, including: Tripped circuit breaker, Reversing valve, Ice buildup on the outdoor coil, and Heating mode. To keep yourself safe, read our guides to heat pump repairs and troubleshooting to learn how to repair your unit. Also, be sure to check the warranty to make sure it’s valid.
Heating mode
If your heat pump isn’t in heating mode, the issue might be with the thermostat. Sometimes, the thermostat will be accidentally set to the wrong setting, which causes the system to cycle in cooling mode instead of heating mode. You can check the thermostat settings by resetting them to heating mode. Another common issue is a faulty reversing valve. An improperly functioning reversing valve will prevent your heat pump from working in either mode.
Reversing valve
If you notice a strange smell coming from your heat pump, you should AC Repair look into reversing valve repair. This part of your heat pump sends refrigerant from the indoor coil to the outdoor coil. While temperatures around this valve should be below 3oF, they may be higher. In some cases, the reversing valve may simply be stuck in one position. The most common cause of this problem is a bad solenoid. This component switches the process from heating to cooling, and a faulty solenoid may prevent this switch from functioning properly.
Tripped circuit breaker
The most common cause for a tripped circuit breaker in a heat pump is an electrical short. A heat pump can have electrical shorts if the fan motor is not running at full capacity. If the fan motor is malfunctioning, the insulation around its wiring can break, causing the circuit breaker to trip. Worn-out wiring can also cause a short and cause the circuit breaker to trip. If the circuit breaker keeps tripping, the next best course of action is to have a professional repair it.
Ice buildup on outdoor coil
One of the most frustrating things for a homeowner is noticing ice buildup on the outdoor coil of their heat pump. While a little bit of frost is natural, if the ice remains on the coil for more than two hours, it will impede the air flow through the fins and reduce the efficiency of your unit. This condition may also be caused by a malfunction in the defrost controls or the reversing valve.
Thermostat settings
The temperature setting of your heat pump may be off by a few degrees, and if it is, you’ll need to adjust the thermostat settings. This can be caused by dirt buildup or accidentally bumping it. First, re-calibrate the thermostat, and turn it on again. If this still doesn’t fix the problem, call a professional. If the problem continues, it’s time to replace the thermostat.
Reversing valve noise
If you notice that the reversing valve is making noises, you may need to have your heat pump repaired. In this case, you need to call an HVAC technician. This technician can test your heat pump to determine the source of the noises and take proper action. He or she will raise the pressure and check both ends of the reversing valve. If one end of the valve is hotter than the other, the problem likely lies there. Consequently, the noise will be louder and the airflow will be reduced.
