There is no doubt that heat pumps are fantastic systems for maintaining a comfortable environment in your home. But like all household appliances, they do come with the potential for problems. The good news is, when you know what to expect you can stay ahead of heat pump issues.
You can keep reading to learn more about three common heat pump problems and how you can identify them early to stay ahead of a major repair or breakdown. Then, give our team a call for heat pump repair in Covington, GA, if you do you have any concerns about your system.
Stuck Reversing Valve
One of the most common problems for a heat pump is that the reversing valve gets stuck. The reversing valve is what allows your heat pump to alternate between heating and cooling using the same components. When you switch your thermostat from heating to cooling or vice versa, that signals for your heat pump to do the same with the reversing valve.
However, sometimes the reversing valve gets stuck, and cannot switch between modes. The good news is, this is usually an easy fix. Most of the time the reversing valve gets stuck in older heat pumps after the part wears down from use and age. Our team can replace the reversing valve and get your heat pump working like new again.
A stuck reversing valve can also lead to inconsistent temperatures throughout your home. You might notice that some rooms are warmer or cooler than others, which can indicate that the valve isn’t properly shifting between heating and cooling modes. Addressing this issue early can prevent uneven comfort and higher energy bills.
Running Constantly
Just like other air conditioners, your heat pump should run in cycles to cool your home. After running for 15 or 20 minutes, your heat pump should cycle off until it’s time to cool your home again in another 15 or 20 minutes. If your heat pump is turning on and off too frequently or running nonstop without turning off, that’s a bad sign. This behavior, often referred to as short-cycling, can cause significant wear and tear on your system.
Something is wrong inside of the system that is not allowing it to cool your home effectively. As a result, your indoor air temperature is not reached, and your heat pump stays on in an effort to cool your home. Our team can troubleshoot to determine what the problem is and fix it. You may be tempted to ignore this problem if your home is still comfortable, but doing so adds a lot of strain to your heat pump.
Frozen Coils
The other common problem that we see in heat pumps is frozen coils. This could be due to a refrigerant leak or a lack of airflow. You may think that the frozen coils are a problem, but they are actually the result of a problem deeper in your system. If you have a refrigerant leak or a lack of airflow, the condenser coils get too cold and allow ice to develop. Frozen coils can block your AC from cooling effectively and may lead to water damage when the ice melts.
Additionally, frozen coils can cause the system to shut down entirely if not addressed promptly. This happens when the ice buildup becomes severe enough to block refrigerant flow or damage key components. Regular maintenance, including cleaning filters and checking for refrigerant leaks, can help prevent this issue from escalating.
You may think that this ice is helping your home get even cooler, but that is not the case. Instead, the ice is actually blocking your AC from being able to cool effectively. Plus, when the ice melts it well leak out and cause damage to the surrounding areas of your air conditioner and home.
Your Comfort Is OUR Business. Contact the team at Snellville Heating today to schedule an appointment for heat pump service.
