Heat pumps used to be fairly uncommon here in Westlake, OH, since they didn’t work especially well in cold weather. Recent advances have changed all of that, however, and residents are discovering the benefits of a heater and an air conditioning system rolled into one unit. Heat pumps are reliable and dependable, but like any other system, they suffer from occasional malfunctions. A qualified technician can correct the issue quickly and properly, but it helps if you know what some of the more common ones are. Here’s a list of 3 you should look out for.
1. Leaking Refrigerant
Like air conditioners, heat pumps depend on refrigerant to do their jobs. The refrigerant theoretically moves through a closed system, but leaks do spring up, and when they do, it can throw off the whole process. Your heat pump will work harder to do its job and frost will form on the expansion coils, signaling a more serious problem to deal with. Never scrape the frost off; it won’t solve the problem. Instead, let a professional hunt down the source of the leak and recharge the refrigerant.
2. Stuck Reversing Valve
The reversing valve is used to switch from heating to air conditioning, which you will probably be doing more frequently in the next few weeks. If there’s a problem with it, however, you’re going to be stuck in heating mode, meaning you won’t have any air conditioning until the problem gets properly addressed.
3. Broken Fan Motor
A broken fan motor is fairly easy to diagnose, since your system won’t make much noise and the flow of air (if any) will be drastically reduced. The bad news is that the fan will need to be repaired or replaced before you’ll be able to use it again.
Call Westland Heating and Air today to treat any problems with your heat pump!
