Heat Pump Problems: Troubleshooting Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are the mechanical devices that are configured for transferring heat from one location (source) to another (sink). In most of the cases, heat pumps draw heat either from the atmospheric air or from underneath the Earth's surface. The former type is called air source heat pump, while the latter machinery is referred to as geothermal heat pump. Heat pumps serve for both cooling and heating the home in extreme environmental conditions.

The technology of heat pump is used in some home appliances such as heating system, freezers and air conditioners. A heat pump works by consuming a small amount of energy for transferring heat from an area with low temperature to another with a higher temperature. It is more energy efficient in comparison to heating and cooling devices like furnaces and ACs. Nevertheless like other machinery, there are certain heat pump problems, which may arise over a period of time. Let's discuss in detail about troubleshooting heat pumps.

Troubleshooting Heat Pump Problems

A brief knowledge about the parts of a heat pump will help in an easy diagnosis of the heat pump problems. The basic components include an evaporator (circulating fans), reversing valve, condenser (refrigerator coil) and a compressor. Prior to starting with heat pump troubleshooting, turn off the power supply at the main circuit breaker. Following are some of the common heat pump problems and ways to troubleshoot them:

No Heat Production: If there is no heat production, then the problem may be due to failure in the main power supply or overloading of the motor. In order to troubleshoot this malfunction, check the power supply and thermostat and fix them (if necessary). In case there is power supply, reset the motor by pressing the reset button. Also, check the ignition of the heat pump for any defects. If none of these tips work, then you can hire a professional for proper fixation.

Insufficient Heat Production: Insufficient heat production is one of the major heat pump problems. In most cases, it is caused due to obstructions in the air ducts. Other reasons for this defect may be low thermostat setting and presence of dirt in the air filters. You can check these systems whether they are functioning properly or not.

Low and High Head Pressure: A heat pump problem with low head pressure can be caused by a lack of refrigerant, damage of the compressor and dirty evaporator. On the contrary, high head pressure often results from overfeeding of the refrigerant and dirty condenser. Monitor these systems and recheck whether the heat pumps start working normally or not.

Freezing of Heat pump: Freezing of the heat pump unit may be caused due to a faulty air blower or accumulation of dust and dirt in the filters and evaporators. For fixing this problem, check for the defrosting option in your heat pump unit. If there is, you can defrost it and check the compressor for any defects. Do not forget to check the calibration of the thermostat.

Noisy Heat Pump: Noisy functioning of the heat pumps is caused due to the reasons like loose screws, improper fixation of the belts and noise from the air ducts. To repair and troubleshoot this malfunction, you can tighten the screws, check the belts and introduce a plastic insulation inside the metal air ducts.

Some of the effective servicing tips for minimizing the heat pump problems are regular wiping of the fan blades, tightening screws and bolts and checking for loose wire connections. While speaking about the heat pump pros and cons, they are energy saving devices that run with a small amount of electricity. A major disadvantage of this system is its limitation to operate at a very low temperature.