If the heat pump in your Farmington Hills home is not working, it can negatively impact your plans and daily routine. The following troubleshooting list can help you determine why your heat pump may not be turning off or on as needed.
Thermostat Problems
Ensure that your programmable thermostat is set to activate the heat pump at the appropriate time. If the settings are correct, the thermostat could have a calibration issue. This could cause the thermostat to display an incorrect temperature.
An electrical issue could interfere with your thermostat’s ability to communicate with the heat pump.
Power Loss
When the heat pump does not turn on, it could be because it is not receiving sufficient power. A tripped breaker could be the cause of the problem. Ensure that all of the breakers powering the heat pump are turned on.
If the breaker for your heat pump trips once, it might be an isolated issue that is not a cause for concern. However, if the breakers are tripping continuously, there is likely an electrical malfunction affecting your heat pump. This is not a DIY repair. Instead, it will require the help of a trained service professional.
Broken Starter Capacitor
The starter capacitor is an electrical component that stores an electrical charge for a brief amount of time. In a heat pump, the capacitor will store the energy and then, when activated, release the power to run the compressor motor quickly. In simple terms, the capacitor jump starts the motor or compressor in a heat pump.
Typically, a heat pump has two types of capacitors. There is the run capacitor and the start capacitor. With time, the capacitors can fail or lose integrity, meaning they may no longer be capable of holding a charge well or at all.
Common reasons why the capacitors in a heat pump fail are because of a lightning strike or some other electrical imbalance. Capacitors have an allowable operating range that they need to stay in. When they are pushed beyond this range, they can fail potentially fail completely.
A clue that your heat pump is not starting because of an issue with the starter capacitor is that you will hear a slight clicking noise when the heat pump is supposed to be switched on. Changing out a capacitor is a potentially dangerous job because it involves working with electrical current and its related wires and parts. A certified technician is best qualified to troubleshoot and repair starter capacitor issues.
A Broken Reversing Valve
A reversing valve is a critical component of a heat pump. It is responsible for changing the refrigerant flow between the outdoor and indoor coils. This causes the coils to change their function from that of a condenser to an evaporator and vice versa. The heat pump heats the house when the refrigerant goes from the compressor coil to the indoor coil, and it cools the house when it moves to the outdoor coil first.
When the reversing valve is broken, your heat pump will be stuck in either cooling or heating mode. When this happens, the reversing valve typically needs to be replaced. This is a less expensive fix than trying to repair it.
Another issue could be that the thermostat has lost its connection to the valve. This leaves the heat pump trapped in heating or cooling mode. When this happens, the heat pump may not turn on when you want it to or function in the mode you want. If your heat pump is acting as if it has a bad reversing valve, contact the technician at AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical right away, and we will troubleshoot the issue for you.
The above are some reasons why your heat pump might not turn on. However, you may need to troubleshoot other issues if your heat pump does not turn off.
Thermostat Settings
For homeowners accustomed to forced air HVAC units, how a heat pump works might seem out of the ordinary. Heat pumps gradually circulate air to help regulate the temperature inside of your home or business. Unlike the brute force of heat provided by a traditional forced air HVAC system, heat pumps need to run longer before turning off once the temperature set on the thermostat has been reached.
In extremely cold environments, a heat pump may experience difficulty achieving the desired temperature that you have set on your thermostat, so it may appear that they are running indefinitely because the house is never warm enough. Lowering the thermostat temperature in the home or using an auxiliary heat source to help heat the home could fix the issue of a heat pump that does not turn off.
Faulty Wiring
The thermostat is what dictates the operation of the heat pump. Wiring that has become damaged will interfere with your thermostat’s ability to sent signals to the heat pump. This could result in the unit continuing to run even after the set temperature is reached. Frayed wires or loose connections could indicate an issue with the thermostat wiring. It is best to leave any thermostat repairs or replacements in the hands of experienced HVAC contractors.
Checking the Heat Pump Blower Fan
It might seem that the heat pump is constantly running, but in some cases, it’s actually just the blower fan moving. If you’re experience this, it would be a good idea to check the settings on your thermostat’s fan to make sure that it is not set to the “on” setting. If it is, your thermostat will prompt the fan to continue blowing air through your house or business, regardless of whether the heat pump is activated or not. Changing the setting to “Auto” will ensure the fan cycles along with your heat pump so it only circulates air while your heat pump is actively working.
On the other hand, the fan’s controller could malfunction. This means that the fan will continue to blow regardless of the settings on the thermostat. This issue is typically resolved by having an HVAC technician replace the fan blower relay.
The Heat Pump Auto-Switches to Maintain the Temperature
Heat pumps can heat or cool the air, depending on the need at a given time. Many can automatically switch between heating and cooling. If the heat pump runs continuously, it could be because it constantly auto-switches to keep the home at the desired temperature.
Offering Helpful HVAC Solutions in Farmington Hills
Since the late 1920s, AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical has provided quality HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services in Farmington Hills. We are committed to providing nothing less than top-quality services in our area. We are accredited by Energy Star and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and have high-quality ratings on Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
Our services include HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair. We do indoor air quality testing and install boilers and mini splits. Our plumbing services include water heater installation, drain cleaning, sump pumps, and water filtration. We offer electrical repair, including electrical panel replacement, whole home surge protection, ceiling fan installation, and generator installation and maintenance. Contact AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical today and see why our services are highly sought after.
