Common Heat Pump Problems and How to Fix Them – Part 2 of 2

In our previous blog, we talked about what to do if your heat pump won’t run at all. In this post, we’ll look at two more common heat pump problems: underperformance and improper cycling issues.

Problem 2: Underperformance

If the air your heat pump isn’t producing warm air in “heat” mode, try the following:

• Check your thermostat – Make sure the temperature is set for at least five degrees above the current room temperature.
• Make sure all registers are open and unblocked – Make sure warm air can move throughout your house.
• Clean the heat pump filter – A clogged filter can cause your heat pump’s blower to overwork, which could eventually lead to a breakdown. Change dirty filters, and replace them regularly as recommended by the manufacturer.

If these simple steps don’t work, you probably need heat pump service.

Problem 3: Improper cycling

• When a heat pump cycles (turns on and off) too frequently, the problem may be that the unit is overheating because of a clogged filter; try cleaning or replacing the filter to see if the problem goes away.
• If cleaning your filter doesn’t fix the problem, make sure the thermostat is set and installed incorrectly (see our previous post). If you’re not sure how to check the installation, contact us.
• Another possible problem is that the heat pump is improperly sized for your living space. If you’ve recently made alterations to your house and haven’t upsized your HVAC systems to handle the larger heating or cooling load, you could be overburdening your heat pump system.

If you have tried these solutions and the heat pump continues to cycle more often than it should, contact us for service.

Most heat pump repairs are preventable with regular maintenance, so schedule yours today! If your heat pump can’t be fixed, we’ve got your covered, too – just ask for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a high efficiency heat pump replacement for your Pennsylvania home.