Heat pumps operate slightly differently from more traditional systems, which makes them a bit more complicated when it comes to potential problems popping up. Before you call your heating repair technician, however, it helps to see if you can find the problem beforehand. Below are some of the things you can do before your HVAC technician gets there.
Check the Thermostat
There are tons of heating problems that can be attributed to a malfunctioning thermostat. Your heat pump might be perfectly fine, but without a properly working thermostat it won’t matter. Check the display to make sure that the thermostat is in heating mode and the temperature is set properly. If it is, the heat pump is more likely to be the problem.
Check Your Outdoor Unit
Depending on how cold your environment is, ice can form on the outside of your outdoor unit. Normally, this isn’t a problem. All heat pumps are equipped with a defrost cycle to regularly melt the ice around the unit. If this defrost cycle isn’t working for whatever reason, the ice can build up and eventually encase the entire unit. This prevents the unit from absorbing thermal energy from the surrounding air, leading to a drop in temperature inside the house. If you see a large amount of ice on your heat pump, covering at least ¾ of the unit, your defrost cycle is probably not working.
Look for Leaks
Most systems rely on an internal “charge” of refrigerant to transport thermal energy where it is needed. A leak in the refrigerant line can drain this charge, severely depleting the heat pump’s ability to heat properly. If you see fluid leaking from either your indoor or outdoor unit, you may have a leak in the refrigerant line. You’ll want to get this fixed right away, as fluid leaking onto other parts of the heat pump can easily cause more problems if left alone.
If your heat pump seems to have lost its ability to heat properly, call AC Designs Inc. We provide quality heating repair services throughout the Jacksonville area.