Heat Pump Troubleshooting

Heat pumps help to keep the house cool during summers and warm during winters. They have the same working mechanism like that of air conditioners and refrigerators. Let us look at the heat pump related problems, and the effective heat pump troubleshooting solutions.

When Facing Temperature Related Problems

• If the room temperature goes high or drops low, it means that the thermostat was not properly installed or is not properly calibrated, and need to be reinstalled or replaced. Read more on best programmable thermostat and heat pump installation.
• If the heat pump keeps turning on or off frequently, it means that the filter is getting clogged or the blower is not working properly.

When There is No Heating

• Make sure the power for the heat pump is turned on, the switch is mostly next to the air handler cabinet or in it.
• Check if the thermostat is set above the room temperature and is on the heat settings.
• This problem also occurs due to a tripping of the circuit breaker, so check if the circuit breaker is working and not blown away. This is an important heat pump troubleshooting tip.
• After fixing the circuit breaker, if it trips again, it means there is a short circuit problem in the electric system, in which case you need to contact a technician.
• Sometimes the motor stops working due to overload, so click the reset button near the motor. If nothing happens, wait for 20-30 minutes and again click the reset switch.
• Check if the thermostat is working on other settings, if not, it means it is faulty and needs to be fixed or replaced.
• Call a technician if the above, troubleshooting heat pumps measures don't work.

When There is Not Sufficient Heating

• Check if the thermostat is working, you can also try moving the setting up by five degrees and wait for some minutes to see what happens.
• Ensure that the registers for room heating are open.
• Sometimes, this problem occurs if the heat pump filters have dirt in them, if you find dirt in the filters replace them. If the above steps don't work to fix these home appliances, get help from a technician.

When Squeaking or Rattling Noises Come From Heat Pump

• If you experience rattling sounds coming from the heat pump it means, that the cover panels are not properly fitted, so you need to screw them tightly. This problem can also happen due to noisy belts or duct work.
• If you notice squealing noises coming out of the heat pump, it means the belt is either not fitted properly, or worn out, and needs a replacement. Contact a technician to fix this heating system problem.
• If you experience noise coming out from the air ducts, which happens pretty often, you need to contact the contractor who will insert a flexible insulation duct work, between the duct work runs and the heat pump.
• If there is popping or pinging noise coming out of the duct work, then it must be due to the air passing from a loose metal flap, or thermal expansion. Trace the duct runs, and find the place where the noise is coming from, and make a little dent in the sheet metal so that it does not move while heating or cooling. Read more about, geothermal heat pump.

This was about the common fixes for mechanical and electric heat pump troubleshooting. Follow the above steps to fix these problems yourself, and you can save the cost of hiring a technician. But, it is important that you contact a technician when facing major problems like broken belts, leaking of the ducts or broken blower motors.