Troubleshooting Tips That May Take Care Of Your Heat Pump
When a heat pump acts up, homeowners can perform a few troubleshooting steps before calling a pro. Most homeowners, however, do not have the necessary skills or expertise to attempt to take any steps beyond the ones listed below. If these troubleshooting steps don’t solve the problem, get the help of an HVAC expert immediately.
Check the thermostat. It’s not uncommon for heat pumps to stop working as a result of problems with its controls. Follow these steps to test the thermostat:
- Make sure the thermostat is set to cooling mode.
- Set the indoor temperature set point several degrees higher than the temperature reading of the living spaces.
- If the thermostat is battery operated, change out the batteries.
- Test the thermostat by choosing “on” mode. If you hear the air handler cycle on but there’s no cooling, the capacitors may be bad or the blower motor may have failed.
- If the air handler does not cycle on, and setting the controls doesn’t solve the problem, proceed to the next step.
Test the power. There are a number of sources supplying or controlling power to the heat pump. Check the:
- Main circuit breaker: If it’s tripped, flip it several times and leave it in the on position.
- Indoor unit’s power switch: Make sure it’s on as well.
- Switch inside the service panel on the indoor unit: When the service panel on the indoor unit is loose, the switch inside of it will automatically shut off. Check this switch and secure the panels.
Check the outdoor unit. The most common problem that occurs in the outdoor condensing unit is ice buildup on the coils. If ice is present and the heat pump runs, wait for the defrost cycle to run and see the ice melts. If it doesn’t, you’ll need expert help, as there may be a problem with the defrost controls or timer.
When heat pump trouble starts in your home, contact Symbiont Service Corp. We proudly provide Florida homeowners, condominium associations, aquatic parks, businesses and schools with quality HVAC services, and we’re the area’s leading provider of GeoThermal heating and cooling systems too.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Englewood, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about troubleshooting tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
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