Heat pumps are a great option for homeowners interested in enjoying year-round comfort with great energy efficiency. They operate just like central air conditioners in the summer, meaning that they evaporate refrigerant in order to remove heat from the air in your home during the summer season. In the winter, this process is reversed. Refrigerant evaporates in the outdoor unit, absorbing heat before being compressed to boost its thermal energy, which is then used to heat the interior living space.
Your heat pump is going to put in a lot of working hours over the course of the year. While routine maintenance can address much of the wear and tear that it will incur, it cannot make your heat pump 100% reliable. Nothing will. Eventually, you will find yourself in need of heat pump repair in Charlottesville, VA. If and when you do, be sure to dial our number in order to guarantee that your system is put back on the right track, the right way, the first time.
Some Problems That You May Encounter
Considering we’re already more than halfway through July, you are probably most concerned with problems that you may encounter with your heat pump during the summer season right now. However, most problems will translate over to the winter season, as well.
For instance, if you notice that you are having trouble cooling your home evenly, then you may have an issue with your ductwork. It could be leaking, or it could be poorly laid out. It could also be an issue with a refrigerant leak, meaning that the system is struggling to sufficiently condition the air and that the air traveling the farthest is not going to be as cool (or warm) as it should be.
Do you hear a loud grinding sound? It could be the result of components grinding up against one another due to damages within the outdoor unit. Maybe you hear a screeching sound. That could mean that there is insufficient lubrication in the system, which in turn means that you need a professional to come and lube the moving parts up to avoid serious wear and tear and eventual damage.
What About All That Ice?
One problem unique to heat pumps is not as big of a problem as it may seem. If you notice ice on your evaporator coil in the summer, try changing the air filter. This is the same case as with split central ACs. The reduced airflow may be causing the coil to get too cold, and that can cause condensation on the coil to freeze. However, it may also be a refrigerant leak in the system causing the coil to get too cold.
Refrigerant leaks in the lines themselves can be fixed. If the leak develops in a heat pump’s reversing valve, however, replacement is really going to be your only option.
This brings us to our heating specific point, though: ice on the outdoor unit. This is not necessarily a problem. In fact, it is expected, which is why heat pumps have a defrost cycle that automatically comes on to deal with such issues. Just remember that there is a difference between some ice requiring defrosting and thick ice that is indicative of a more serious issue.
Contact Mack Morris Heating & Air Conditioning with any questions that you may have. We can’t control the weather outside of your home, but we can control the weather inside your home.