Heat pumps do a great job of efficiently and cost-effectively heating and cooling your home, particularly in a climate like ours that doesn’t have a particularly harsh winter. However, like all technology, heat pumps can develop issues, and you may wonder whether it’s a problem that you can troubleshoot, or whether you need to call a professional HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) contractor.
One of the main things that can go wrong with a heat pump is a dirty filter, which can greatly reduce your heat pump’s efficiency. To replace a dirty filter, turn off the power to your pump and locate the filter, which will be behind a panel or grille on your indoor unit. Unscrew the panel or grille and slide out the old filter. Replace the filter with one of the the same exact dimensions.
Another frequently-seen problem is when the pump does not turn on due to a lack of power. This can occur when the circuit breakers that provide power to the pump have tripped. If your pump will not start, check your electrical panel, and reset the circuit breakers.
Although you might be able to deal with some problems yourself, certain situations almost always indicate that it time to call a professional:
- The pump consistently makes an unexplained noise. Possible causes for this include worn motor bearings or a loose cover panel.
- The outdoor unit stays covered in a permanent layer of ice. This can occur when the defrost control malfunctions or the unit is low on refrigerant. You should contact an HVAC contractor to check and fill your refrigerant.
- You cannot feel any air coming from the registers. This typically occurs when the belt that connects the motor and the indoor unit’s blower needs to be replaced.
- The thermostat light remains on at all times. This problem can occur because your air filters are clogged. You should check and change your filters regularly, at least once every six to eight weeks.
If you are unsure about whether you can fix an issue with your heat pump, you should definitely call a contractor. Often, they can address small issues that, if left untreated, could escalate into major, and costly, problems.
For more expert advice on all matters regarding your home-comfort systems, contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We have been providing superior service to the Northwest Arkansas area for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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