4 Common Summertime Heat Pump Problems in Wilmington, NC

A good heat pump system can save you from enduring scorching hot summer temperatures in Wilmington, NC. However, summers can also pose special challenges to your heat pump that will require you to be on alert. Here are four heat pump problems that commonly occur during the summer.

1. Lackluster Cooling

Obviously, a heat pump that refuses to cool your home adequately can be extremely annoying during the summer. Many things may explain your heat pump’s mediocre cooling performance. For example, its reversing valve may have gotten stuck in its heating mode position, causing the refrigerant to flow in the wrong direction and causing the system to not cool your home.

Another possibility is that dirt on your system’s air filters has blocked or restricted airflow. Alternatively, your heat pump could be low on refrigerant or there may be debris trapped in your system’s compressor that keeps it from functioning.

Whatever the case, technicians can examine your heat pump and perform either repairs or maintenance to resolve the issue. If you remember to replace your air filters at least once every 60 to 90 days, you can take care of any filter-related airflow difficulties on your own.

2. Failure To Turn On

An even more serious issue is if your heat pump simply fails to turn on at all. Most of the time, the reasons for this relate to either your thermostat or your heat pump’s electrical components.

In the case of the thermostat, installers may have improperly connected it, or the device may have just malfunctioned, leading to it not sending signals to your heat pump. Also, your thermostat’s backup batteries may need to be replaced. In any case, there is a communication failure occurring between your thermostat and your heat pump.

In the latter case, the electrical wiring in your heat pump may be faulty, preventing power from reaching the system. Your heat pump can also have a malfunctioning starter capacitor. Finally, there may be some sort of general problem with your home’s entire electrical system.

3. Ice Formation

Given the high temperatures that prevail during the summer, it can be strange to imagine ice forming on or inside your heat pump. Nevertheless, in some circumstances, this can happen.

Specifically, if refrigerant leaks out of your heat pump, the system will not be able to perform heat transfer as well as it could before. When your heat pump is in cooling mode but has insufficient refrigerant, that means that it will not move heat from the air inside your home to the air outside your home as effectively as it previously could. Hence, less heat will pass through your heat pump.

Over the course of operations, condensation can form throughout that may freeze if temperatures drop low enough. Without enough refrigerant, the probability of such a temperature drop increases.

We should mention that refrigerant is extremely toxic and if you suspect a leak inside your home, you should evacuate. If ice forms on your heat pump, turn it off and call HVAC technicians over. They can determine the cause of the issue and, if necessary, refill your system with refrigerant.

4. Strange Smells

This issue may arise at any time of year, but the factors that cause your heat pump to emit unusual smells tend to be most prevalent during the summer. For example, if your system smells like dirty laundry, there may be biological contaminants growing inside of it. Such material tends to increase most easily in hot and moist environments.

Even though your heat pump might face some specific difficulties during the summer and heat during this time of year makes these issues especially pressing, you don’t need to worry. Our team of experienced HVAC technicians can take care of your HVAC concerns right away with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call Airmax Heating & Cooling today and sign up for the best heat pump repair services around Wilmington, NC.

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