A heat pump can be one of the most efficient and versatile heating and cooling solutions for your home – but only if it’s functioning properly. If you sense that your heat pump isn’t working the way it should, there are some steps you can take to see if you can . In this two-part blog post, we’ll look at some common issues that occur with heat pumps and how you can address them.
Heat Pump Problem 1: Your heat pump doesn’t turn on
If your heat pump doesn’t run, it’s probably due to either a problem with the thermostat or with the power being supplied to the unit. Try the following:
- Check the thermostat settings – Make sure your thermostat is set for “heat,” or for the target temperature to cool your home. Make sure the thermostat is set for at least five degrees above (for heating) or below (for cooling) your room’s current temperature.
- Make sure your thermostat is the right model, and that it has been installed correctly – If you have recently replaced your thermostat, make sure it’s one that is compatible with heat pumps (not all thermostats are), and that it has been installed properly. If you can’t see your thermostat’s digital readout, try changing the batteries.
- Make sure the heat pump is receiving power – Reset any tripped circuit breakers that supply power to the unit. If the circuit breaker trips repeatedly, it is probably an electrical problem that needs professional repair.
- Make sure that any power switches are turned on – Check for any wall switches that may affect operation of the heating pump unit and make sure they are in the “on” position.
Heat Pump Problem 2: Your heat pump isn’t heating or cooling your room properly
If you own a heat pump, you know that the air it produces isn’t as warm as that produced by a furnace or boiler. But it should still be warm; if it isn’t, take the following steps.
- Check the settings on your thermostat – Make sure the temperature is set for at least five degrees above the current room temperature.
- Make sure all vents are open – Make sure warm air can flow throughout your house.
- Clean the heat pump filter – Dirty filters can hamper a heat pump blower’s ability to distribute hot air. If your heat pump filter is dirty, change it following manufacturer’s instructions.
If these simple steps don’t work, it means that either the blower or some other part of your heating pump system isn’t working properly. Both of these problems require professional heat pump service.
Heat Pump Problem 3: Your heat pump cycles too frequently
When a heat pump cycles (turns on and off) more frequently than you think it should, the problem may be that the unit is overheating because of a clogged filter; try cleaning or replacing the filter (following manufacturer’s instructions) to see if the problem goes away. If cleaning your filter doesn’t fix the problem, check the thermostat; it may be set incorrectly. The thermostat could also be improperly calibrated or installed – though if the thermostat has been working for a while, the latter issue isn’t likely to be the case. Most heat pump repairs are preventable with routine maintenance.