Heat pumps are a common and efficient heating option for homes around Lacey, WA. However, despite their popularity, they may experience issues during cold weather. Consider these seven possible problems your heat pump may experience over the winter:
Outside Frost Buildup
While the temperatures around northwest Washington barely get below freezing, your heat pump coil may frost over. This happens because the coil must become colder than the air outside to absorb heat. However, frost can also inhibit the ability of the system to absorb heat and move it into your home.
This is why the heat pump has a defrost mode to reverse the refrigerant flow, pushing warm refrigerant outside. How frequently the system runs a defrost cycle depends on the outside air temperature and how well the system runs.
Emergency Heating Mode
Every heat pump has a secondary, or emergency, heating mode that kicks in when the temperature drops below effective temperatures. By default, heat pumps come with an electric resistance heater as the backup heating source. Your system may activate emergency heating more often if it’s not properly sealed or if your heat pump runs inefficiently.
Some homeowners opt for a dual-fuel system rather than a standard heat pump to correct this. These use a gas furnace as the secondary heater, which is vastly more efficient than the standard electric resistance option.
Faulty Defrost Cycle
Your system may activate the defrost cycle too frequently when it experiences problems. One obvious issue arises when the outside air temperature is below the efficient operating range of the system. Another occurs if there’s a fault with the frost sensors.
Additionally, the system will defrost if it has insufficient refrigerant, allowing the outdoor coil to get too cold. A service technician can check the refrigerant charge during routine heat pump maintenance to help prevent this issue.
Excessive Noise During Cold Weather
Your heat pump may emit more noise over the winter than during warmer seasons. This may happen during defrost cycles or because of components expanding and contracting during cold weather.
However, some sounds may indicate a problem that will prevent your system from heating effectively. Loud screeching or grinding noises may point to a problem with the compressor or a fan motor. If you hear these sounds, shut the system down and schedule a heat pump repair to prevent further damage.
Poor Heating in Cold Weather
Most of the weather around our area stays well within the efficient operational range of most heat pumps. However, during colder weather, it may not heat as effectively as during moderate weather.
Poor heating may point to several problems, including issues with the compressor or refrigerant charge. Additionally, there may be an issue with the auxiliary heating system either activating or heating properly.
Cold Air During Heating Cycles
While your heat pump won’t produce as noticeably hot air as a furnace, it should produce warm air. Cold air from your vents may indicate several things, some of which are part of normal operation. The first is that the system is in defrost mode.
However, if the thermostat indicates heating mode rather than defrost, it’s a whole different issue. In this case, you may have a faulty reversing valve, which changes where the high-pressure refrigerant flows. This can happen as a system ages and may require a replacement.
Bad Capacitor
Some components in your system require a large electrical charge to get started, like the compressor or fan motors. The capacitor is an electronic component that delivers this charge without putting a sudden draw on your home electrical system.
Cold weather can negatively impact electrical component performance. If you have a capacitor that’s already wearing out, cold weather can push it over the edge into failure. This is part of what a service technician tests during routine heat pump maintenance to help prevent a mid-season breakdown.
You can prevent most mid-winter heat pump problems with proper maintenance. Call to schedule a heat pump maintenance visit with one of our expert service technicians at Mountain Heating & Cooling.
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