We have a fair number of heat pumps in Westlake, OH homes, which combine the function of a heater and an air conditioner into one unit. They work by circulating refrigerant through a series of valves and coils, just like an air conditioner. The only difference is that the cycle can be “reversed,” which vents warm air inside your home and cool air outside. (The opposite of what most air conditioners do.) But what happens if that reversal won’t take place? What if your heat pump won’t switch over and keeps pumping out cool air instead of the warm air you need? You should call in a qualified repair technician the moment you do, but it pays to understand what some of the possible causes might be.
Broken Reversal Valve
This is the most common cause of a stuck reversal valve: the component that reverses the flow of refrigerant through the system. If it breaks, then you’re typically stuck in whichever mode it’s currently on until it can be repaired or replaced. In most cases, you’ll need to get a new valve.
Low Refrigerant
It seems counterintuitive, since refrigerant is usually used to cool the air instead of warm it. But it’s vital for the heating process as well, and if your system springs a leak, it won’t be able to do the job as effectively as it should. And here in Ohio, you can definitely feel the chill when it can’t. A trained technician can hunt down the source of the leak and seal it before recharging the refrigerant.
Broken Thermostat
In this case, it’s the thermostat causing the trouble instead of the heat pump itself. If there’s been an electrical short or there’s some problem reading the temperature, it may keep the heat pump stuck in cooling mode.
Contact the pros at Westland Heating and Air to get your heat pump fixed today.
