5 Common Tricks to Troubleshoot Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are excellent sources for heating and cooling your home. Like all major appliances, automobiles and other home comfort systems, there will be times you need to troubleshoot your heat pump.

Here are five common situations you may encounter with a heat pump and what to do about it.

Heat Pump Iced Over

A little frost on the condenser coil of the heat pump is normal; if your unit is encased in ice, however, you’ve got a problem. While there are a few possible solutions that you can effect yourself, malfunctions require expert help.

Check your heat pump to make sure it isn’t covered with leaf debris, or that a rain gutter isn’t spilling melted snow onto it. Remove ice or snow by washing away with a garden hose.

More serious malfunctions that may cause icing: faulty thermostat or sensor, faulty reversing valve, malfunctioning motor or low refrigerant charge.

No Power

Check the circuit breaker. Make sure the power switch is on. If nothing happens, you may have an electrical problem.

Noise

If the noise is a clattering, vibrating or banging from the indoor or outdoor component, turn the unit off in the summer, or to “emergency heat” in the winter. It could be a malfunctioning or broken fan blade.

Auxiliary Power Light on Too Much

When the auxiliary power light is on, it means your heat pump is using auxiliary power. This happens when the heat pump is in defrost cycle, when the temperature in the home falls more than two degrees than the heat setting on the thermostat or if you raise the thermostat more than two degrees. If the light seems to be on during cold weather more than usual, have the unit checked.

Rising Steam

Steam will rise from your outdoor unit when the defrost cycle comes on. This is normal; it happens when the heat pump goes into cooling mode to defrost frozen condensation on the condenser coil outside during cold weather.

For more advice on troubleshooting a heat pump, contact us at Tempco Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving Arlington Heights for more than 20 years.