Why Is Your Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air? A Heating And AC Repair Company Answers | Fort Worth, TX

Why Is Your Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air? A Heating And AC Repair Company Answers | Fort Worth, TX

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The last thing any homeowner in Fort Worth, TX, wants is the hassle of looking for a heating and AC repair company when the heat pump malfunctions during the icy winters. Many things can go wrong with your HVAC, and a heat pump, not heating is among the most common problems. To begin with, heat pumps are in demand because of their energy efficiency.

They ensure your home stays warm during winter and cool in the summer. Most heat pumps act as two-in-one systems handling air conditioning and heating for a single household. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, running heat pumps is economical, especially if you live in comparatively mild climates.

Unlike furnaces, which produce heat, heat pumps are designed to transfer heat. A heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air and circulates it throughout your house; hence, the air blown by heat pumps via the vents is cooler than the air from the furnace. While temperatures from the air coming out of the heat pump range from 80 to 95°F, the ones from the furnace could be around 120°F to 155°F. Therefore, air from the heat pump is always much cooler and not super hot.

Some heat pumps may misbehave when you need them to work during the cold season. No need to panic; in this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the reasons your heat pump may not be blowing hot air.

Clogged Filters

The heat pump requires maintenance, especially the filters that have to be changed regularly to stay in excellent condition. Ignoring the annual maintenance may cause the heat pump to be damaged by clogged filters. This damage does not happen overnight; instead, it goes unnoticed over time.

The filter is a critical part of the heat pump because it prevents debris, dust, and other contaminants from circulating in the air. It also ensures the heat pump remains clean by preventing dirt or dust from coating the internal parts. Clogged air filters cause the heat pump to get dustier, causing damage.

This affects the evaporator coil when dust accumulates, forming a layer that acts as an insulation between air and the refrigerant. This interferes with the cooling potential of the coil, causing the heat pump to be less efficient. If you don’t contact technicians from a reliable heating and AC repair company, you risk a severe breakdown in the future. Also, you’ll end up paying high monthly energy bills because the dust increases friction on the movable parts of the heat pump, causing it to work harder.

It’s advisable to change the filters once every two to three months to prevent the heat pump from being damaged by clogged filters. You can also call experts from a heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX, to perform routine maintenance once or twice a year.

In addition, professionals from a heating and AC repair company caution homeowners against running heat pumps without the air filter because it leads to dirty evaporator coils, causing them to stop working.

Dirty Exterior Condenser

The condenser coils play a critical role in the air conditioner’s cooling process. Since they are located outside, they are prone to dirt buildup over time. To avoid serious problems with the heat pump, you should have a licensed heating and AC repair company to service it to keep the coils clean.

First off, condenser coils are situated in the AC’s outdoor unit, and the refrigerant carrying heat from inside your house passes through the condenser coils. Your home is cooled when air is blown over the condenser coils by the outdoor unit, causing heat from the outdoor unit to be transferred to the external air.

The condenser coils are constantly exposed to debris, dirt, and other elements because they are located outside. Over time, debris accumulates up on the coils as the AC operates, and if not removed, it can cause the system to break down since it has to overwork to heat or cool the house. Also, dirty condensers cause your system to consume excess energy than usual since the dirty coils make it hard for the AC to cool your home.

To prevent dirty exterior condensers, you can schedule an annual tune-up with a certified heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX. This ensures your condenser stays in excellent condition, whether in summer or winter.

During a tune-up, the technicians clean the condenser unit, inspect for refrigerant leaks inside and around the condenser unit, and check the internal parts. Besides professional maintenance, homeowners can keep their condenser coils clean by straightening the unit’s fans, removing or trimming any landscape near the unit, and ensuring the coils are free from debris.

Low Refrigerant Charge

The compressor produces energy to move the refrigerant throughout the heat pump to ensure it performs its job of transferring heat from one place to another. There has to be enough refrigerant for the heat pump’s mechanical parts to operate efficiently. Insufficient refrigerant not only makes your heat pump ineffective in cooling or heating your home but also damages the compressor and heat pump.

Icing is one of the most common problems resulting from low refrigerant. A drop of refrigerant in the heat pump hinders the unit’s normal balance of heat exchange. This reduces heat absorption leading to moisture freezing along with the coil due to the refrigerant’s low temperature. The frost will begin growing until it becomes a solid ice block along with the coils.

Besides blocking heat exchange, it destroys the coil and the cabinet. You may be tempted to chip off the ice block forcefully, but this worsens the situation. In such cases, you should contact professionals from a licensed heating and AC repair company to fix the problem.

Low refrigerants are likely to cause compressor problems. For starters, the heat pump’s compressor is built to accommodate a specific refrigerant charge. Thus, the compressor is likely to malfunction due to overworking, especially if the charge is very low.

For the compressor to operate efficiently, it is lubricated by oil, which is also part of the lubricant. Therefore, the compressor could burn out due to leaking the refrigerant, which causes the lubrication oil to spill.

Components of the compressor may also be damaged when the refrigerant leaks from the compressor itself. A leaking refrigerant is not a DIY job that any homeowner can attempt. Thus, if you notice your refrigerant is leaking, you should contact trained technicians from a reputable heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX.

Thermostat Might Be on the Wrong Settings

A well-functioning HVAC is critical for your home comfort. Any change in the HVAC is worrisome, but before contacting a heating and AC repair company, check the thermostat. Sometimes those minor thermostat problems could be due to some severe problems with the HVAC system; hence, affecting your system’s performance and comfort.

Although thermostat issues are subtle, they may cause abrupt changes in the performance of your cooling and heating system. This affects the performance of your unit, and some homeowners may panic, thinking they need an emergency heating and AC repair company to resolve the equipment troubles. Yet, it’s only the thermostat that needs to be adjusted. If you notice your AC is running non-stop or short cycling, you could have a faulty thermostat.

Sometimes you could have set your thermostat on the wrong settings. For instance, to ensure the temperature is maintained at the required level, most thermostats come with heating, cooling, and auto options, which adjust back and forth between cool and heat to maintain the required temperatures.

Also, there is a fan setting for ‘auto’ and ‘on’. Thus, if the thermostat fan is set to ‘ON’, the heat pump may not be engaged but constantly runs despite the external temperature. This causes cool air to run through the system, and you can only fix it with a simple thermostat adjustment.

If your thermostat operates on batteries, ensure that they are not dead or weak. Also, if you use a programmable thermostat, it’s essential to be sure it’s properly programmed before calling a technician from a heating and AC repair company.

The Emergency Heat Has Failed

Sometimes your heat pump could be blowing cold air because the heat strips are faulty. To begin with, heat pumps have emergency heat strips that chip in to help the heat pump when the temperatures in Fort Worth, TX, drop below 30 degrees.

When your heat pump is in good condition, the furnace will use the emergency heat when the primary system cannot control the temperature on its own, or there is an issue with the heating system. If you notice that the fan is not also turning, you can set the thermostat to prevent the unit from staying on.

HVAC experts caution homeowners from turning on the emergency heat manually unless the heat pump has completely malfunctioned. If you have to turn on the emergency heat, it’s advisable to contact a heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX, to fix the underlying issue. You should only switch the emergency heat if the heat pump is no longer warming your house and not because it is cold.

It’s an Old Unit

Did you know that you can use your heat pump for 20 to 25 years without replacing it? However, the lifespan of a heat pump depends on the location, how well it is maintained, and climate. With regular maintenance, your heat pump can last up to 25 years, but it may only last for about 10 years if you live in coastal areas.

Compared to other types of heating, it’s clear that heat pumps last longer, which could be attributed to their design. After years of usage, even with regular cleaning and maintenance, you will have to replace your heat pump. An old unit will produce unexpected loud, weird noises and even unusual smells.

Although heat pumps naturally generate noise when starting up or shutting down, you’ll notice an abrupt change in the sound. Such problems are unlikely to disappear even after a heating and AC repair company inspects and services the unit.

Another problem caused by old pumps is reduced airflow. Old systems cannot operate at their maximum, causing a drastic reduction in the airflow. If you contact a technician from a reliable heating and AC repair company and the problem persists, it would be best to go for a new heat pump.

Although heat pumps are energy-efficient, you’ll notice a spike in your electricity bill when they get old. However, before jumping to conclusions, it’s advisable to conduct an energy audit to ascertain if the heat pump is responsible for the high energy costs.

You can contact a heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX, to service your heat pump if it is the culprit. If you keep incurring high energy bills, it would be clear that the heat pump is too old to work efficiently, and you need a heat pump.

An old heat pump will need constant repairs long after the warranty has expired. While heat pumps are bound to malfunction from time to time and need some repairs, an old heat pump will need frequent major repairs or replacements. In such cases, it would be wise to call a Heating and AC Repair Company for quality replacements.

Do You Need a Licensed Heating and AC Repair Company? We Can Help!

Heat pumps offer various advantages to your home. If you need heat pump replacement, installation services, or any heating and AC repair company projects, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth got you covered. We’ll guide you in finding the right system for your residential property and install it to ensure you stay comfortable throughout the year.

Besides heat pumps, you can depend on our heating and AC repair company for commercial HVAC services, home performance evaluations, preventative maintenance and service agreements, and new system installation. Get in touch with us today!