If your heat pump isn’t working properly you may well end up having to call a reliable professional to look at it. However before you take that step there are a few things you can do yourself to see if an easy fix is possible. Troubleshooting a heat pump can save you time and money. In troubleshooting a heat pump, try these three tips:
Is your heat pump producing heated air? If it’s not, check the thermostat. Are the batteries working? Turn the heat in the home up a couple degrees to determine if the heat pump starts working (turn down the temperature if it’s the cooling season). Do not raise the heat more than one or two degrees above the room’s temperature or the backup heat may come on, and you will be unable to determine if the heat pump is actually operating. Also turn on the fan to see if the thermostat is functioning properly. Check the breaker box to determine if a circuit breaker may have tripped or malfunctioned. Turn the breaker off then on to see if the heat pump starts to work again. There may be an intentional five-minute delay before it starts. Flipping the breaker helps to reboot the system.- Is the fan on the outdoor unit turning? If it’s not turning switch the thermostat to emergency heat if you have it and see if the heat comes on. Look at the outdoor unit and check for frost or ice build-up on the coils.
- If the heat pump appears to be working properly, wait about 15 minutes, and then use a thermometer to check the heat blowing out of the vents. Typically, the heat from the vents should be 10 to 15 degrees warmer then the air in the room.
Troubleshooting a heat pump by yourself may do the trick but if you’re unable to get it working please call us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Co.We can send a trained professional to your home to diagnose the problem with your heat pump. We provide quality cooling and heating services to Yuma and the surrounding area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about troubleshooting a heat pump and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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