If you're like most people, you really enjoy settling down with family and friends with hot beverages on a cold day and watching a movie or otherwise enjoying being indoors. However, few things ruin the mood faster in this situation than a heat pump that's started blowing cold air. This often seems to occur during the first serious cold snap of the season, and this typically isn't a coincidence — after all, the first few days of cold weather is when your furnace has to come back to life after being out of commission since spring. One of the most common malfunctions during this time is the heat pump blowing cold air. Here's why it happens and how it can be fixed:
Your Heat Pump's Reversing Valve is Malfunctioning
A reversing valve is a component in your HVAC system that toggles between heating and air conditioning. If this valve becomes stuck, your heat pump will produce cool air. Tapping on the side of the valve with a screwdriver might be enough to dislodge any accumulated dirt or dust that's causing the valve to stay put instead. If this doesn't work, call a professional heating repair service for assistance.
Your Heat Pump Has Gone Into Defrost Mode
If your heat pump's outdoor coils have frosted over as a result of exposure to cold temperatures, it's likely to result in your heat pump going into defrost mode. Defrost mode will generate cool air to get the coils to heat up in response. This should only last for a couple of minutes, at most, and it just shows that your furnace is doing its job. Sometimes, though, a heat pump can get stuck in defrost mode, or defrost mode might stop working altogether. If either of these happens, you need to call a furnace repair technician.
Your Outdoor Unit is Blocked
Homeowners often overlook the space around outdoor units when weeding, raking leaves, and performing other routine outdoor tasks because the outdoor units are typically sited in out-of-the-way parts of the yard, such as along the side of the home or behind a fence. This may result in a buildup of vegetative debris around the unit, which can restrict the airflow that the heat pump needs in order to function properly. Fortunately, there's an easy fix to this problem — simply remove the fallen leaves, weeds, and anything else that's built up around the unit.
Preventive maintenance is the best way to circumvent furnace breakdowns and malfunctions, so be sure to have your furnace inspected and tuned up prior to the start of winter.
Contact a furnace repair service if you notice any of these signs.
Share26 August 2022
Hi there, my name is Shelley. Welcome to my site about electric heating systems. Electric heat has recently fallen out of favor due to the efficiency of natural gas systems. Electric heat is still suitable for small buildings that do not need the high temps provided by upgraded systems. I will use this site to explore all of the building types that can benefit from electric heating systems. I will also share information about system components, installations and repairs. I welcome you to come by often to learn more about this exciting topic. Thanks for coming by. See you soon.