Troubleshooting Heat Pumps
Are you thinking of troubleshooting heat pump problems yourself? Here are some tips and guide on how you should go about it.
“I’m Mechanically Inclined and Have A Lot Of Tools - How Much Troubleshooting of My Heat Pump Can I Do?”
In general, I would advise most homeowners that if they feel they must troubleshoot their heat pump themselves, to be very careful and only attempt to do the most basic evaluation. As you are not a trained HVAC professional, you may end up damaging very expensive components or even injuring yourself seriously. More complex forms of heat pump troubleshooting and testing should be left to a qualified professional with the tools, training, and experience to do the job properly.
“My Heating Bill Is Going up Steadily - Even Though I Have a Heat Pump Installed - What’s Wrong?”
Right off the bat, I would tell you to look at your heat pump filters - that is your air filters. During the summer and winter months, when your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner is being used a lot, you should change your air filters at least every other month. Whenever you are troubleshooting a heat pump that is operating inefficiently, always remember to inspect your air filters and replace any which are dirty.
“I See Ice Forming on My Outdoor Heat Pump All the Time - Is This a Problem?”
You needn’t get alarmed if you notice ice formations on the coils of your heat pump. This recovering ice buildup isn’t necessarily indicative of a problem - it is a byproduct of the way in which a heat pump operates. Be aware, when troubleshooting heat pumps, that during operation your heat pump will normally switch over to a defrost cycle to melt this ice buildup. You may even notice steam vapor rising from your unit as the ice is melting away from the coils.
However, when you are troubleshooting your heat pump if you notice that the ice buildup never seems to go away, or you never hear your heat pump unit switching over to the defrost cycle, you could have a problem — and you should call for an inspection and possible repair.
“When Troubleshooting My Heat Pump Unit, I Noticed a Cracked Circuit Board - What Can I Do about That?”
In addition to larger mechanical components such as evaporator coils, compressors, motors, etc. your heat pump unit may have one or more printed circuit boards. These circuit boards contain electrical components that are essential to the proper functioning of your unit - and unfortunately for you, you can not troubleshoot heat pump circuit boards yourself. If you notice that a heat pump circuit board is cracked, corroded, melted, or fused - you need to call your service professional right away. Only they are qualified to extract, test, and replace these electrical components.
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Troubleshooting Heat Pumps
