Heat pump systems are vulnerable to a lot of problems of performance mainly because of the complexity of their structure. The following is a list of typical heat pump problems you might face and what causes them. Remember that in most cases you can do heat pump repair yourself, but it is not advisable if you are not confident about it and have never handled such repair jobs before.

• If the outside unit of the heat pump refuses to start, the problem could lie in the circuit breaker or the thermostat, which could have started malfunctioning for some reason. This also happens if the wiring is faulty. If the parts are malfunctioning, your solution is to replace them. Or, if the parts are still good, reconnect the wiring.
• Sometimes the outside unit of the heat pump works like a dream but the fan directed inside does not function. If that happens, your heat pump is unable to provide the required heating and cooling. The cause of this might lie in the fact that the motor of the fan has worn out or that the capacitor has stopped functioning. The motor of the fan and the capacitor can be replaced. If there are wire connection problems also, this might happen. Check the wiring and correct any problems that might have cropped up there.
• If the circuit breaker of the heat pump system continually keeps tripping, it could be a problem because it causes the heat pump to go on and off, thus necessitating a heat pump repair. Check the circuit breakers and the capacitors in order to rectify this problem. You might need to replace them if they have worn out.
• The problems of the heat pump collecting ice are the most easily solved. You may just have to clean the filters or the evaporator coil or replace the blower motor.
• If the heat pump is causing cold draughts to come inside through the vents in the winter months when the system is actually meant to warm the house, you might have to replace the refrigerant or check if the filter or the vents are blocked. However, when this begins to happen, you must get an indication that the life of your heat pump is coming to an end.
• If you are finding that the heat pump does not turn off the outside unit, it might be due to a nonfunctional thermostat, which you will need to replace, or loss of the refrigerant used.

Heat pump repair vs. buying a new one

If it is just a part or two that is not working, you could simply replace them and your heat pump could be as good as new. The same applies to wiring problems; you merely have to reconnect them. It is only when the refrigerant problems begin to happen that you should know that the life of your heat pump has run out. Heat pump repairs at this stage will be only temporary. It is best to get a new heat pump at this stage.

Maintenance tips to prevent heat pump problems

Heat pumps require a lot of care and maintenance, which will be mentioned in the user’s manual and you could also visit the manufacturer’s website to understand what typical care needs to be taken. Remember to have someone on call to check into your heat pump problems. There are service people who you can hire with an annual maintenance contract and they will periodically check the functioning of your system.

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