There’s nothing worse than trying to warm your Charlotte, NC, home and feeling cold air instead. Here are some of the common reasons your heat pump may blow cold air rather than the warmth you crave:
You Have a Frozen System
Like any refrigerant system, a heat pump may freeze up, which will prevent it from producing warm air. Several things can cause your system to freeze, including mechanical failures, airflow restrictions and low refrigerant.
If you think you have a frozen system, visually inspect your unit and call to schedule a professional diagnosis. The best way to catch these problems early is through routine heat pump maintenance.
It May Be in Defrost Mode
Your unit has a defrost function to protect it from freezing and straining the compressor. When it switches to defrost, it automatically reverses to cooling to push the warm refrigerant back out to the unit. You’ll know if this is the case when you look at the unit if it is venting steam without the fan running.
Mechanical Problems
Mechanical problems may also cause your heat pump to pump cold air. One unique problem with heat pumps is the reversing valve, which changes the refrigerant flow for heating and cooling. Occasionally, this component gets stuck in the cooling position. As a result, your unit won’t produce heat.
If you suspect this, call for a service technician to address the issue. There are a host of possible underlying issues, from a complete failure to a simple electrical problem.
It Isn’t Actually Cool Air
If your heat pump is new and you’re used to a standard gas furnace, you may not have a problem. The difference between systems is that a heat pump produces less direct heat than a furnace. This difference won’t prevent effective heating, but the air coming from the system will feel somewhat cooler.
Don’t let simple problems prevent you from feeling comfortable this winter. Call to schedule your heat pump repair with the award-winning service technicians at Bradham Brothers, Inc.
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