Columbus Heat Pump Repair Service

Your home’s heat pump system works hard for you all year. While it works as a furnace in the winter, its outdoor unit also allows the system to double as a central air conditioner in the summer. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of heat pumps, they tend to develop issues quickly. Like all HVAC systems, heat pumps can develop problems that require an HVAC professional. Several problems may indicate an issue with your heat pump, such as:

The average heat pump will need to switch on two to three times an hour (for about 15 minutes) to keep your home at your desired comfort level. However, when your heat pump needs to be repaired or replaced, it will begin to short cycle.

Short cycling is when your heat pump switches on several times an hour for just a few minutes at a time. Heat pumps that run in this manner will not work efficiently, use up dramatically more electricity than average, and will not keep your home at the desired temperature.

Here are several reasons your heat pump may be short-cycling:

• Bad thermostat batteries: It may seem like a minor issue, but the batteries in your thermostat can cause big problems. Weak batteries may cause your thermostat to make mistakes when determining the temperature in your home, causing your system to short cycle. Make sure to check both the batteries and your thermostat settings whenever you are suspicious of short cycling.

• Clogged air filter: If the air filter on your heat pump is dirty and plugged up with filth and debris, it will restrict airflow throughout your entire HVAC system. While they are usually effortless to replace, air filters can cause big problems. For example, a clogged air filter may restrict airflow to the heating system, causing it to overheat and short cycle in the process. Filters are also essential to your home’s air conditioning system. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations on how often you should change your filters.

• Leaky refrigerant lines: Heat pumps that have refrigerant leaks or a broken refrigerant line will not be able to absorb hot or cold air from your home and replace it with air at your comfort level. The reversing valve that directs the flow of refrigerant will also struggle.

• The reversal valve is either energized or relaxed based on the amount of refrigerant therein, so a leak could mean it malfunctions and causes short cycling. Since only a certified technician can fix a reversing valve, replace a refrigerant line, or discern the refrigerant flow, they must be called for repairs. You may have refrigerant line issues if you ever notice frost on your outdoor unit. Most units have a defrost mode that will try to rid the unit of frost, though not every defrost cycle is effective. Contact a technician for more information about refrigerant line problems.

• Incorrectly sized system: A heat pump that is too large or too small for your home will not for effectively and must be replaced.

• Blower motor issues: The major components of your HVAC equipment, such as the heat pump blower motor, may not be receiving the appropriate amount of power due to a bad capacitator or other issues. If the appropriate electricity is not supplied, the system will short cycle frequently.

A heat pump that is struggling to maintain efficient operation will make more noise than a system operating normally. If your HVAC system makes abnormal sounds when it turns on, runs a heating or cooling cycle, or turns off, it should act as a red flag that you may need professional service.

A regular heat pump with no issues should make a few clicking sounds when the unit is starting up, which comes from the system’s thermostat communicating with other equipment. Otherwise, there should only be a gentle hum during a regular cycle and then another click as the system shuts off.

Here are a few abnormal sounds your heat pump may make, and why you should refer to a professional HVAC technician:

• Constant clicking during a heating cycle, which could be indicative of a faulty pilot light.
• Grinding coming from the blower motor bearings.
• The squealing of a damaged blower motor fan belt.

A consistently above-average utility bill could indicate that your heat pump is not functioning as efficiently as it once did. Your heat pump system can deteriorate over time, and certain parts may need replacement or repair. Equipment that has not been maintained may lack efficiency and begin to work harder than average to heat or cool your home. Without repairing the heat pump, you will likely begin to pay more and more for your utility bills each season, all while airflow and efficiency decrease.

A heat pump that does not keep the climate in your home controlled, may have serious issues. Poor climate control could be a sign of:

• Clogged air filters
• Impaired electrical system
• Improper system sizing
• Refrigerant leaks or reversing valve issues
• Thermostat issues