4 Common Heat Pump Repairs

Keep reading to learn more about the four most common heat pump repairs that we see and the signs of each one. Even if your heat pump is still operating to keep your home warm, these problems are ones that you don’t want to ignore. If they worsen, they could do permanent damage to your heat pump that cannot be reversed.

If the refrigerant lines in your heat pump get damaged, refrigerant can leak out. When it does, it will make a hissing or bubbling sound depending on where the leak is at in the lines. Refrigerant leaks are dangerous because refrigerant is a chemical that can damage your home and even pose risks to your health. 

But a lack of refrigerant can also impact how well your heat pump is able to condition the air in your home. Refrigerant leaks need to be repaired, and then the refrigerant needs to be recharged so that there is enough refrigerant in the lines to heat and cool your home.

The reversing valve is a component that is completely unique to heat pumps. The reversing valve is what triggers refrigerant to move in the opposite direction to heat your home. With a standard air conditioner, refrigerant only moves in one direction to absorb heat from inside your home and transfer it outside for cooling. 

But when the reversing valve is active, refrigerant can move in the opposite direction inside of your heat pump to instead absorb heat from the outside and bring it into your home. The reversing valve is a fairly easy switch to replace and inexpensive repair to make. If you suspect that your heat pump is not working because the reversing valve is stuck, just give us a call to schedule an appointment for service.

Heat pumps also face the risk of developing ice on the condenser coils located on the outdoor portion of the unit. When refrigerant runs through these lines outside and temperatures are cold, it’s possible for ice to develop on the coils.

Ice can block refrigerant from being able to absorb heat and bring it into your home effectively. Heat pumps do have defrosters that sense when ice develops and kick in to thaw the ice out, but occasionally these defrosters malfunction and need to be fixed. Our team can thaw out the ice and address any other related issues to prevent the problem from happening again.

We also get a fair amount of calls for electrical problems inside of heat pumps. As the wires expand and contract with temperature changes, they can come loose. Loose electrical wires pose fire hazards and can even lead to electrical shorts. Electrical problems can be very risky, so they need to be fixed immediately. If you suspect that your heat pump is having electrical problems, you need to schedule an appointment with our team to have your heat pump looked at.

Your comfort is our business. Contact the Elliott McElwee Heating and Cooling team today to schedule your appointment for heat pump service.