The hot season is finally over. Congratulations, you made it through, but now when you go to turn your heat pump into heating mode, nothing happens. Ironically, your heat pump isn’t providing any heat.
Let’s see if it requires heat pump repair in Hamilton, or if there’s a quick fix you can apply right now. Since heat pumps wear two hats (both heating and cooling), they have a few unique problems compared to an older HVAC system you may have had in the past. Let’s break this down.
It May Be an Easy Fix, Like Changing Air Filters
It’s easy to view air filters as a dust collection trap, but they provide an important service to your heat pump (and any HVAC system). Your system’s airflow is crucial to its operation.
If your air filters are clogged or riddled with thick dust, it’s time to replace them with new filters. Airflow problems can provide somewhat immediate relief for your heat pump.
Your Valve Is Stuck
On the inside of your heat pump, there’s a valve that controls the flow of refrigerant from one area to the next. Instead of your heat pump being broken, this valve could just be stuck (and not even need to be replaced).
A technician will be able to diagnose this problem and inspect the valve. Your valve can get locked into one mode, or it can sit between the two modes and make it difficult for your heat pump to even continue cooling your home.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant leaks are definitely more costly than a stuck valve or airflow problem. Since your valve simply controls the flow of refrigerant, it can have a difficult time moving if there’s a refrigerant leak and there isn’t sufficient refrigerant to operate.
Low refrigerant is a problem even if the leak is taken care of. Because heat pumps and other HVAC systems use a closed-loop system for refrigerant, you never need to “top it off” unless you’re replacing volume due to a leak.
Refrigerant leaks are hazardous and you should not attempt to clean them up on your own. A licensed and experienced heat pump technician needs to be called if you suspect or spot a refrigerant leak.
Your Thermostat Needs to Be Calibrated
If you set your thermostat to heating and your heat pump doesn’t turn on, it may not be the heat pump at all (fingers crossed). Instead, your thermostat could be the troublemaker.
Your thermostat reads the temperature of the room and communicates that information to the heat pump. If your thermostat believes it’s already hotter than it is in your house, it won’t tell the heat pump to turn on.
Many digital thermostats have instruction manuals that can be accessed from manufacturer websites so you can recalibrate them on your own. If you’re not sure, you can always call a technician to recalibrate it for you.
Your Heat Pump Needs Some TLC
Whether it’s a repair or annual maintenance, your heat pump needs work. If changing the air filters or recalibrating the thermostat didn’t do the trick, it could be something that a technician needs to take a look at.
Contact us to schedule a heat pump repair or replacement and regain your family’s comfort today.