HVAC

Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular due to their high operating efficiency and ability to provide heating and cooling for home comfort. Unfortunately, just like any other heating or cooling system on the market, heat pumps can experience issues. As a homeowner, it can be helpful to understand some wintertime issues you may experience and how to go about troubleshooting them.

Ice Buildup at Condenser Unit

It’s perfectly normal for the coils and your outdoor condenser unit to develop frost over time. Your system has a built-in defrost cycle that will extract heat from your home to warm the coils and thaw out the frost. Unfortunately, if there’s a problem with the defrost cycle, your system can develop ice that reduces its operating performance.

Some other key reasons why there may be ice buildup on your outdoor condenser unit include blocked airflow at the condenser unit, dirty coils, and low refrigerant levels. A great place to start troubleshooting this is by clearing out any debris in your outdoor condenser unit that could block normal airflow. This includes everything like leaves and garbage.

If your system doesn’t switch to defrost mode and melt off the ice on your coils, it’s necessary to call for professional assistance. You should never try to thaw out the coils on your own with something like boiling water. Doing so could permanently damage the coils. We can determine the root cause of your ice buildup issue and repair it. Plus, we have trusted techniques for thawing out your coils in a safe and effective manner.

Reduced Heating Performance

If you’re starting to notice that your heat pump doesn’t seem to produce the same amount of heat as it once did, it could be due to several different reasons. A great place to start is by checking its air filter. Standard heat pumps will have one built-in air filter in your return ducting. Pull it out and hold it up to a light source.

If you can’t see through it, it’s time for a replacement. If you have a ductless mini-split system, each indoor air handler unit will have its own washable air filter. If the air filter is clogged full of debris, be sure to wash it out and thoroughly dry it before you reinstall it. Keeping up with routine filter changes and washings will greatly reduce your risk of having this problem.

If your air filter seems fine, insufficient heating could be due to a low refrigerant level in your system. You’ll need one of our technicians to come out and determine if your system is leaking refrigerant. If it is, we’ll work to locate the source of the leak and repair it before recharging your system’s refrigerant level back to normal. Once your normal refrigerant level is restored, your system should go back to working efficiently.

Another culprit behind insufficient heating is a thermostat malfunction. If your thermostat loses its calibration, it could read that your ambient temperature is higher than it actually is. This could leave your home feeling cool and uncomfortable even though your thermostat thinks it’s at the appropriate temperature.

Our team can assess the calibration of your thermostat and recalibrate it if necessary. Additionally, insufficient heating could be caused by an internal mechanical issue with your compressor or reverse valve that will require a professional for repair.

Short Cycling

Short cycling happens when your heat pump turns on and off frequently. This typically occurs when it turns on and off every few minutes, and you’ll experience fluctuating indoor temperatures and higher-than-normal energy bills. Short cycling is usually an indication of an issue with refrigerant, internal sensors, a dirty air filter, or restricted airflow.

Be sure to check your air filter to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. Check all your air vents to see if any of them are obstructed or accidentally closed. If this doesn’t solve your problem, then it’s time to call us for professional support. The issue likely lies with a more in-depth component of your system.

Odd Operational Noises

Anytime that your heat pump makes a noise out of the norm during its operation, there’s likely an issue with a mechanical component or airflow. Typically, the tone of the noise your system makes can give you a lot of insight into where the problem likely lies. A rattling noise usually indicates a loose component or debris stuck inside your unit.

A hissing noise typically refers to a refrigerant leak, which is a problem that needs prompt repair assistance. If you hear a whirling noise, it can indicate a problem with the fan or motor inside your unit. Scheduling professional maintenance is one of the best ways to catch these sounds early on and repair the problem before they turn into major issues.

Weak or No Airflow

One particularly frustrating issue you may run into with your heat pump in the winter is weak or little airflow coming from your air vents. This can be due to one of a few different issues. The best place to start is by checking your air filter to see if it’s dirty and in need of replacement. If that doesn’t solve the problem, it’s likely that the coils in your outdoor condenser unit are frozen.

It’s best to check them to see if there’s a thick layer of ice on them. If the coils aren’t frozen, there could be a malfunction with the blower motor. The motor itself may be faulty, or the blower fan belt may have broken off. Either way, the blower compartment of your heat pump won’t work, meaning no air can circulate throughout your ducting.

Lastly, if none of these is the issue, the problem could be inside your ducting. If there is an obstruction, it could restrict airflow to certain branches. This is most common in instances where you experience weak or little airflow in just one or a few rooms of your home.

Heat Pump Not Turning On

Another problem you may experience with your heat pump is that it won’t turn on. This typically points to an issue with its capacitors, wiring, or circuit breaker. We suggest starting by looking at the circuit breaker for your heat pump to see if it has tripped. If it has, reset it and see if it turns back on. Realize that your outdoor condenser unit will likely have its own subpanel electrical box that could be turned off and needs to be turned back on.

If you have no power at your thermostat, you can try to replace the batteries to see if that restores power to it. If it doesn’t, there’s a more complex issue that will require professional assistance. Our technicians can check to see if your thermostat is faulty, has bad wiring, or if your heat pump has a faulty compressor that needs to be replaced.

Expert Heat Pump Repair Service

Evergreen Heating & Air LLC provides expert heat pump repair services for the Statesville, NC area. We can also help with all your heat pump installation, replacement, and tune-up needs. Phone our office today to book your next service appointment with one of our helpful technicians at Evergreen Heating & Air LLC in Statesville.

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