5 Common Heat Pump Problems and How To Deal With Them

Don’t let a faulty heat pump make your Englewood Cliffs home feel uncomfortable. Call our Gladiator Services team today for an inspection!

Despite many people relying on separate heating and cooling systems to keep their homes comfortable throughout the year, plenty of homeowners are embracing heat pumps. Heat pumps eliminate the need for separate HVAC appliances by providing heat and cool air. Still, occasional heat pump problems can arise, so knowing how to address them will keep the equipment running longer and more smoothly. 

As Englewood Cliffs’ trusted heating and air conditioning company, Gladiator Services understands how frustrating a malfunctioning heat pump can be for any property. Whether you use the equipment to heat or cool your home, try our heat pump troubleshooting tips to address common problems you might face with your equipment. 

How Heat Pumps Work

Before learning how to troubleshoot heat pump issues, it helps to know how the equipment works. Regardless of your heat pump’s make and model, it will heat or cool your home by transferring warmth from one place to another.

If you have an air source heat pump, the equipment will transport heat into your home from the air outside and vice versa to cool your property. With a ductless heat pump, you’ll have an air handler in each room to transfer air. Ducted heat pumps use a network of air ducts to transfer heat between indoor and outdoor air. 

The warmth a ground source heat pump provides comes from the earth. The equipment absorbs thermal energy from the ground by circulating a thermally conductive solution in a closed underground loop.

As with an air-source heat pump, a ground-source model can cool indoor air by flipping a switch to reverse the system’s airflow. Instead of bringing warm air indoors, it transfers warm indoor air outside. 

5 Common Heat Pump Issues and Their Solutions

A well-maintained heat pump can last up to 15 years. However, heat pump problems can occur well before the end of the equipment’s lifespan for many reasons. Here are some heat pump troubleshooting tips to remember in case you experience complications with your HVAC unit. 

1. No Heat

Though you only need to flip a switch to change your heat pump’s settings from “cool” to “warm,” you might discover that the unit isn’t providing enough warm air, if it’s providing any at all. The problem could stem from a dirty air filter. Unless you change your air filters at least once every three months, the screen will collect too much debris, leading to an airflow restriction. 

Your unit might also stop providing warm air if the outdoor unit has a blockage from snow or debris. Again, this is an airflow restriction problem. Ensure that nothing is on the outdoor unit, and leave at least two feet of clearance on all sides.

2. No Cool Air

If you need cool air from your heat pump, but your house is still warm, check the thermostat settings. Your home won’t cool down if the thermostat isn’t in its “cool” setting. Also, set the fan on “auto” to ensure it only runs while the heat pump is on its cooling cycles. 

A common problem with heat pumps that don’t cool is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is essential for absorbing warmth from the air, so a leak will reduce the unit’s ability to transfer heat. Because of the refrigerant’s hazardous nature, you’ll need to contact an HVAC contractor to identify, locate, and repair the leak before recharging the refrigerant. 

3. Too Much Noise

Your heat pump might emit a soft hum while running, but you shouldn’t hear loud banging, grinding, or rattling. If you do, the problem could be a faulty fan or compressor. Unusual sounds could indicate the need for a major or minor repair, so turn the heat pump off and call a professional if the unit is too noisy.

4. Frozen Coils

Your heat pump system includes an outdoor unit with essential components like a condenser coil and blower fan. You might notice snow accumulating on the unit after a snowfall, but it has a setting to automatically defrost its interior components so that snow and ice aren’t a problem. 

Unfortunately, ice in the outdoor unit is one of the most common heat pump problems. Ice can form if your neighborhood has snowfall that’s substantial enough to cover the entire unit and block airflow. Airflow problems can also develop if the outdoor fan is malfunctioning because there won’t be enough air circulating over the coils with the refrigerant. 

To address external ice buildup due to weather, use a garden hose to spray water on the outdoor unit and melt the ice. You’ll need to call a professional to diagnose and repair a broken blower fan.

5. Heat Pump Runs Constantly

A heat pump running constantly might not seem like a problem, but it is. It could be due to incorrect thermostat settings. If you set the thermostat too high in the winter, your heat pump will run longer to reach and maintain the temperature. Check your thermostat and ensure it’s between 68 and 72 degrees in the winter and around 78 degrees in the summer. 

Dirty air filters and coils can also cause your heat pump to run too frequently. Routine maintenance to keep your interior and exterior units clean will prevent dirt, dust, and grime from collecting on the heat pump’s coils. Your maintenance should also include swapping out the air filter at least once per season. 

Turn to Gladiator Services for Your Heat Pump Needs in Englewood Cliffs

Whether you want to make your heat pump more efficient or address heat pump problems, you can count on our professional Gladiator Services crew to provide the HVAC care you need. We’re a trusted HVAC company with qualified technicians who go above and beyond to provide reliable service with world-class customer support. From heat pump repair to air duct cleaning, we do it all. 

Reserve your appointment with Gladiator Services in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, today by calling (201) 512-8972.