If you have a heat pump, it’s a good idea to know what some of the common repair needs are so you can pay attention to their signs and identify them early. Investing in heat pump repairs when problems are just beginning is a great way to take care of your unit and prevent breakdowns.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the more common heat pump repairs that we see in the area. Then give our team a call if you think that you need to schedule an appointment for heat pump repair in Clackamas, OR.
Reversing Valve
Heat pumps have a reversing valve that helps the unit move back and forth between heating and cooling. Any time you adjust your thermostat from one setting to another, the reversing valve switches positions. This allows the refrigerant to move in the opposite direction in the lines.
In one direction, the refrigerant absorbs heat from inside your home to cool down the air. In the other mode, your heat pump absorbs heat from outside to bring it in as your heat pump acts as a heater. Over time, this reversing valve may get stuck and need to be repaired or replaced.
Defrosters
Heat pumps have defrosters on the outdoor portion of their units. When operating during the winter, refrigerant moving through the lines can lead to ice developing on the coils. Your heat pump has sensors that detect this ice and signal for the defrosters to come on.
Problems with the defroster may mean that the sensor is not acting properly or that the defrosters are not turning on when they should. Either way, our team can troubleshoot the problem and get it fixed. Otherwise, ice buildup could block your heat pump lines from being able to heat or cool your home effectively.
Electrical Problems
Since your heat pump uses a lot of power, it can experience electrical problems. These problems can vary from being relatively minor to very serious. However, it is important to remember that any electrical problem at all deserves immediate attention.
Signs of electrical problems include noticing loose wires or having your heat pump struggle to turn on and stay on for cycles. The heat pump may also trip the breaker when it turns on, which is a red flag that the system is consuming more power than necessary.
Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerant will never leak out of your air conditioner unless the lines are damaged. Otherwise, refrigerant should last for the entire life of your heat pump. When refrigerant leaks do happen, you will hear a bubbling or hissing sound near the portion of the line where refrigerant is leaking out.
The sound depends on whether or not the refrigerant is a liquid or a gas where the leak is happening. Our team can recharge refrigerant levels and identify the site of the leak to repair the lines and get your heat pump working like normal again.
Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!