Your heat pump is a marvel compared to that old air conditioner and furnace combo. In one machine, you get so much energy efficiency that you can save money while keeping your comfort at peak levels. But heat pumps still have their issues, as all HVAC systems do, and one of those has to do with switching from one mode to the next.
Whenever we handle heat pump repair in Chester, PA, we always look at one little component that controls the state of your heat pump by helping it switch modes. But there’s also a chance that the problem is completely separate from that little component as well. Let’s explain.
Your Air Filter is Likely Dirty
Your air filter doesn’t just help pull debris and dust out of the air for your indoor air quality sake. That’s surely a benefit, but it’s not the primary reason. It’s actually there to prevent all that dust from getting into your heat pump. See, your heat pump has refrigerant in it since it also operates like an air conditioner, and that’s kept in a closed loop on the condenser.
The condenser relies on the warm air coming in even during a cycle where it’s trying to cool the air in your house. It helps change the state of refrigerant in that closed loop, but if it’s coated in a layer of dust, it can build up to the point that it doesn’t allow for that temperature transfer.
Or it’s just not getting enough air in the first place because that filter is so dirty. Do yourself a favor: replace it, and set alarms on your phone for the 1st of every month to check and likely change your heat pump’s air filter.
Your Thermostat May Be Reading the Room Incorrectly
Your heat pump may be completely fine, but instead, it could be your thermostat that’s getting it in trouble and making it look like the heat pump is broken.
Your thermostat reads the temperature of the room; not your heat pump. When it reads the temp, it sends an “ON” or “OFF” signal to the heat pump as needed to get your actual room temperature closer to the target room temperature.
But if it’s reading the air temperature incorrectly in the first place, it won’t send signals when it’s supposed to. Recalibrating your thermostat is usually enough to fix the problem. You can use the manual that came with your thermostat, or a PDF manual from the manufacturer’s website. Either one should be fine to calibrate your thermostat.
A Damaged Solenoid
In your heat pump, there’s a small component called a solenoid that’s responsible for the mechanical shift from one mode to another. It works whether it’s switching from heating to cooling, or vice versa. If it gets stuck, dirty, or just stops working, that could be the culprit. This isn’t a DIY-friendly task, so we can get our technicians out to you to fix this if those other two options don’t work according to plan.
Your Heat Pump Fix is Waiting
It’s time to get that heat pump fixed before you really need to switch over to that other mode. We can handle this for you as well as any other heat pump-related problem that pops up. All you have to do is give us a call and we’ll handle the rest.
Contact Michall Daimion Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today to schedule your heat pump repair as soon as possible.