If you’re experiencing heat pump trouble in your Southwest Ohio home, here’s a few troubleshooting tips you can try before calling for expert help.
- If your heat pump does not power on, make sure the thermostat is in cooling mode, and set to three or four degrees below room temperature. This will immediately tell you whether the heat pump is working, or whether there’s some other problem.
- Check the circuit box to see if the switch needs to be reset.
- If your heat pump powers on, but does not cool properly, it’s best to call in an HVAC pro.
Heat pump basics
Refrigerant has natural properties that under the right conditions extract and release heat. The refrigerant needs adequate airflow for this process to transpire efficiently. For adequate airflow, the heat exchangers (evaporator and condenser) need to be clean. This is where airflow instigates the refrigerant to extract heat (cooling mode) and release heat (heating mode) from your home. The indoor blower circulates the conditioned air through the ducts. The outdoor blower expels the air away.
Heat pump maintenance
In the Dayton area, heat pumps are generally used all year long for cooling and heating. This being the case, it’s advisable to schedule planned preventive maintenance at the start of the cooling and heating seasons. An HVAC pro will inspect your entire heat-pump system, and make sure all components are operating correctly. An inspection of your heat pump should include the following, and more:
- Inspect electrical wiring, contacts and components for function and wear.
- Inspect the thermostat.
- Calibrate blower speed. For cooling season maintenance, the technician may slow the blower speed a notch to improve dehumidification inside your home. For heating season maintenance, blower speed should be increased to use more energy for heating, not dehumidification.
- Inspect for refrigerant leaks.
- Check refrigerant charge.
- Clean condensate drain line and pan. A clogged line can cause water damage inside your home.
- Clean the heat exchangers and blower assembly.
- Check the air filter.
- Inspect the compressor for leaks and function.
Simple troubleshooting may get your heat pump back online. If not, contact the HVAC pros at Ace Hardware Home Services Inc. We’ll provide the expertise and know-how to make your heat pump troubles disappear. We’ve served Dayton-area homeowners since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio 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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