While heat pumps and air conditioners are very similar, there are some key differences that set a heat pump apart. These differences are especially important to know when it comes to scheduling maintenance or repairs for your heat pump.
When your system needs heat pump repair in Satellite Beach, FL, give our team a call to schedule your service. Whether you’re facing big or small heat pump problems, we are here to help. You can keep reading to learn more about some of the ways that a heat pump is different from a central air conditioner and what that means for making repairs.
Understanding Heat Pump Operation
Heat pumps and central air conditioners are very similar in how they operate. Both types of systems have refrigerant lines that absorb heat and transfer it from one place to another. In the case of the central air conditioner, heat is absorbed from inside your home and transferred outdoors as a method of cooling down the air.
With a heat pump, that same cycle happens for cooling. However, heat pumps have a few additional components that allow the refrigerant to move in the opposite direction, absorbing heat from outdoors and transferring it inside your home to warm it up. The components that allow your heat pump to do this are the ones that set it apart from a central air conditioner.
Heat Pump Repairs
Repairing a heat pump is largely the same as repairing a central air conditioner. However, heat pumps do have a few unique repair needs that we see from time to time. One of these is the heat pump getting stuck in either cooling mode or heating mode.
If you have a separate air conditioner and heater, your thermostat signals for one unit to turn off and the other unit to turn on when you switch from heating to cooling or vice versa. With a heat pump, the thermostat is signaling for the reversing valve to switch directions. This allows the refrigerant in the lines to move in the opposite direction.
But it’s common for the reversing valve to get stuck after years of use. Our team may need to go in and clean around the reversing valve so that it can work again. Sometimes we even need to replace it completely, but the repair isn’t particularly expensive and will get your heat pump working great again.
We also see problems with heat pumps developing ice on the outdoor unit during the winter season. Whether you use your heat pump for heating or cooling in the winter, it’s possible for ice to develop on the outdoor unit. After all, here in Florida we often need cooling all year round.
Heat pumps do have sensors in place to identify when ice begins to develop on the outdoor unit. When this happens, defrosters should turn on to melt the ice and prevent your heat pump from breaking down as a result. But sometimes the sensors or defrosters malfunction and need to be repaired or replaced.
You can stay ahead of these common heat pump problems by keeping up with regular maintenance for your heat pump twice a year.
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