Heating Repair: Heat Pump Diagnosis

September 01, 2017

You don’t need to call a professional HVAC technician immediately when something terrible happens to your heat pump. You can always start with a basic inspection and see if the problems are simple matters you can handle yourself.  Airview AC has put together these essential troubleshooting tips to help you.

Thermostat

Start with the most common, the battery. Change batteries if needed to maintain the proper functioning of the thermostat. Sometimes, thermostats fail to function properly due to old and drained batteries. Also, set the thermostat to your preferred setting and check if the set point is accurate. For example, if you want to heat your home, set the thermostat two degrees higher than the house temperature.

Power Supply

Power supply issues are easy to fix. The power supply includes the circuit breaker or the closest wall switch to the unit. There are circumstances when relatives and friends visit your home, and they often mistake the wall switch for a light switch. Be extra careful of this scenario. If using a split system, examine the separate breakers in the condenser and the air handler.

Air Flow

If you find weak airflow in the vents, check for blockages. Most of the time, dirty air filters are the cause, so you should replace them regularly. Check also if the ducts are obstructed by furniture and any other items. Remove them. If these are all good, maybe the problem is a faulty blower motor. Whatever causes your blower motor to fail, you'd better call an HVAC technician for inspection.

Condenser Fan Motor

Unless on defrost mode, your heat pump’s fan motor should turn when the compressor starts to run. If this is not the case and the heat pump is not in defrost mode, check if blockages hinder the operation. If none, call an HVAC technician to fix the problem.

Heat Pump Diagnosis:

Change filters regularly.

Remove obstructions from the supply vents.

Clean the area around the indoor unit.

Remove leaves and other debris that block the outdoor units.

Have regular furnace and heat pump maintenance and repair services.

Need some help with your HVAC system this incredible season? After you check the basics and realize the need for a professional heat pump service, don’t hesitate to call us at Airview AC.