While it doesn’t seem like it quite yet, we all know how cold our winters get and how cold our falls can get. Therefore, it’s important to have a fully functional and efficiently operating heater in place, right?
So let’s say you have a heat pump system in place. You had spring maintenance done before you used it for AC purposes, so it’s in great shape, right? Well… maybe, but heat pumps go through twice the work that a standard AC or heater does, therefore it needs twice the maintenance. Otherwise, you could find yourself with a very annoying problem. What problem is that? A heat pump that is stuck in cooling mode when the weather chills.
Read on to learn more about this problem and what may cause it–and then give us a call when you need quality, reliable repairs!
Broken Reversing Valve
The most common cause of a heat pump getting stuck in one mode or the other is a broken reversing valve. The reversing valve is a part that sits along the system’s refrigerant line and is responsible for switching the direction of the refrigerant flow.
This component is what makes your heat pump a heat pump, rather than a traditional air conditioner. If that heat pump breaks down, it leaves homeowners without a heating system or cooling system, which just won’t do in our area!
We have some good news though–a broken reversing valve is an easy fix. That is, it’s an easy fix for our technicians. Homeowners shouldn’t attempt HVAC repairs on their own, particularly when it has to do with potentially hazardous components like refrigerant.
Thermostat Problems
Another possible cause for a stuck heat pump is actually not a problem with the system itself, but instead with the thermostat. It can be faulty wiring that’s causing your thermostat to lose connection to the heat pump, and therefore it has no signal for the system to start heating.
This is another example of a “simple fix” for our technicians. It’s important to remember though that even though thermostats are small components, they have a lot of wiring involved and can be dangerous to deal with.
Refrigerant Leak
Upon installation, a heat pump system has enough refrigerant to last its entire lifespan, theoretically. Refrigerant is not something that depletes, like gasoline does from a car. It’s in a closed-loop system and is recycled throughout the years.
If you have a refrigerant leak in your heat pump, then it might not be that the system is actually stuck in one mode or the other. A heat pump can’t properly do its job without the right level of refrigerant–called its refrigerant charge–and therefore you won’t feel the cooled or heated air you’re supposed to coming from the vents.
If you suspect you have a refrigerant leak (you may hear something that resembles a hissing or gurgling coming from your heat pump) be sure to give our team a call right away. We’ll find the source of the leak, repair it, and recharge your refrigerant to get your heat pump back in good shape!
For professional Lake County, CA heat pump services, contact Jonas Energy Solutions.