How to Repair a Heat Pump in Big Bear?

When it comes to keeping your house warm during winter and cool during summer, there is no better option than heat pumps. The heat pump, as the name suggests, pumps heat from one place to another and hence, uses less electricity or fuel compared to a furnace when producing heat.

In the summer, the heat pump removes heat from your house, using a compressor and a refrigerant, and releases it outside. In the winter, the cycle reverses. Thus, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, but it is considerably cheaper. However, you can enjoy these benefits only if your heat pump is in excellent working condition.

Most heat pumps do encounter a few common problems. Here are some tips from Big Bear heating that can help you troubleshoot these problems and maintain your heat pump to ensure maximum efficiency.

1. Your Heat Pump Fails to Start

Sometimes, your heat pump may fail to start at all. If this happens, you may either have a faulty power supply or defective thermostat. So, first, you need to check your thermostat settings. If you can, check the wiring to make sure everything is where it should be. Improper wiring can cause the electric circuits to break, and the pump will stop running.

If the thermostat is working fine, check the main power supply. Usually, resetting a tripped circuit breaker should start your pump. However, if you can’t identify the problem on your own or if it continues, contact your Big Bear heating solutions provider immediately.

2. The Outdoor Unit Stops Defrosting

Another common issue you may encounter is the outdoor unit of your heat pump freezing in winter. Although it is perfectly normal for frost to gather on the sides of the outdoor unit, failure to defrost is a surefire sign of a problem. It can affect the efficiency of your heat pump and may even lead to irreparable damage.

Usually, your outdoor unit will go into air conditioning mode for a few minutes periodically to defrost itself. However, if this stops from happening, the frost will gather much more quickly than usual. Check the outdoor unit to see if there is too much frost.

Sometimes, the issue can be something simple, such as water dripping on the outdoor unit or piles of debris accumulating around it, thereby preventing the heat from releasing. Cleaning the outdoor unit or fixing the water drip will resolve the issue.

If not, there may be a problem with the outdoor unit fan. If the fan doesn’t work, it can prevent the heat from releasing, resulting in fast-accumulating frost. You will need to repair or replace the fan.

Another potential issue could be related to faulty relays, controls, sensors, or the reverse valve. A slow leak of refrigerant can also lower the heating capacity of your outdoor unit and result in the frosting. If you can’t check these problems yourself, make sure to call a Big Bear heating expert to have a look.

3. Heat Pump Is Not Working Efficiently

Your heat pump may fail to heat or cool your house efficiently sometimes. However, you must remember that when the heat pump goes into air conditioning mode temporarily for defrosting, it will release cold air. If it continues to heat or cool your house inefficiently aside from the defrosting schedule, you need to check it out.

Start with the thermostat. You can increase or lower the temperature by at least five degrees Fahrenheit to see if the heating or cooling is working suitably. If not, you need to repair or replace the thermostat.

Next, you need to check the pump filter. Over time, the filter will gather dust, which will keep the heat from transferring to your rooms. The same goes for room-heating registers. If these filters are clogged, you need to remove and replace them with new ones.

Unlatch the grills and remove the filter, which is mostly resting on a ledge or channel. Put the old filter in a disposable bag and place a new one. Clean the grill with a damp cloth first, then latch it. If this doesn’t fix the issue, you may have to clean the coils of the outdoor condensing unit or make sure the auxiliary heating elements are working efficiently.

4. Noises Coming from the Heat Pump

It is not a good sign if you hear annoying noises from the heat pump. In most cases, scraping and squeaking noises indicate that the motor bearings are shot, or they are failing. However, as this is a complicated problem, it is better to call your Big Bear heating expert for help.

A popping or rattling sound coming from the ductwork, on the other hand, indicates that one of your ductwork flaps are loose. Loose parts in the air handler or cover panels can also cause annoying noises when you turn your heat pump on. You can follow the noise to see where it’s coming from and fix the issue. However, if any of these issues keep repeating or you can’t handle them, call an HVAC expert immediately.

Conclusion

Keeping your heat pump in excellent working conditions is necessary to maintain the right temperature inside your house in both winter and summer. Unfortunately, most heat pumps will have some minor issues from time to time that you can take care of by yourself. Hopefully, these tips will prove helpful in resolving such problems. It is, however, better to call a professional when required.

Call the Leading Big Bear Heating and Cooling Expert Today!

We understand that keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer is top priority for you. Bear Valley Plumbing & Heating is a leading heating and cooling expert that is here for you 24/7! From new installations to repairs and maintenance, you can call us on (909) 584-4376 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

 

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If you are looking for a Big Bear plumbing, heating & air conditioning contractor, please call (909) 584-4376 or complete our online request form.