Heat Pump Troubleshooting: Simple Fixes To Try Before You Call In The Pros

If you have a problem with your heat pump, it’s best to call the pros. You can do some simple heat pump troubleshooting to remedy the problem, but beyond the steps outlined below, enlisting the help of an HVAC expert is your best option. Here’s what to do.

If the heat pump won’t run at all

• Check the two most common culprits. The thermostat setting may be wrong. Set it on “heat” for heating and “cool” for cooling. Then make sure the thermostat is set higher than the indoor temperature reading for heating and lower for cooling.
• Check the power supply. Heat pumps generally have two circuit breakers, one powering the condenser and one powering the air handler. Make sure they haven’t been tripped or blown. Some heat pumps have a switch inside of the air handler. If you feel comfortable opening the cabinet, make sure the switch is flipped on.

If the temperature of the conditioned air isn’t adequate

• Check the thermostat setting and mode.
• Inspect the heat pump’s air filter. If it’s dirty, install a new one.
• Check the registers throughout your home. They should be open to allow airflow.

If the system continually freezes

• First, turn off the heat pump.
• Check the registers throughout your home to ensure proper airflow.
• Change the filter if it’s dirty.

The heat pump doesn’t cycle correctly

Frequent cycling on and off is often a symptom of a system that’s overheating. As a result, the heat pump shuts off but cycles back on immediately, because the thermostat isn’t yet reading the correct room temperature. Installing a new filter may help, but there could be a problem with the blower or the thermostat. It’s also possible that the limit switch has shut off, which it’s designed to do when the air temperature in the plenum reads higher than normal. It’s best to call a pro for help with incorrect cycling.

If these heat-pump troubleshooting steps don’t remedy the problem, contact Rinaldi’s Air Conditioning Servicefor emergency service. We’ve served Orlando and central Florida since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about troubleshooting your heat pump and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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