Heat Pump Problems to Watch for This Winter
Heat pumps are widely used across the country for their ability to offer both heating and cooling functions. Their unique construction makes them useful as climate control systems, but it also opens them up to a number of problems that other heating systems don’t really have to deal with. If you’re using a heat pump to stay warm this winter, you should keep an eye out for some of these problems. Read on to find out more.
Refrigerant Leaks
Most heating systems work by combusting fuel of some kind to generate heat, or by running an electric current through a heating coil. A heat pump does neither of these. Instead, it evaporates refrigerant to move preexisting heat from one place to the other. This makes refrigerant vital to the continued operation of the heat pump. If a leak develops in the refrigerant line, the system will be drained of the fluid it needs to heat your home. This will cause a whole slew of problems, up to and including a full system breakdown. If you see fluid leaking from your heat pump, call for repairs right away.
Broken Reversing Valve
The reversing valve is the part that allows the heat pump to switch between heating and cooling modes. It is a 4-way valve that sits in the refrigerant line of the heat pump. A slide in the valve, which is controlled by an electromagnet called a “solenoid,” moves from one position to the other in order to change the direction of refrigerant through the system. If the slide becomes stuck in the valve or the solenoid loses its charge, the valve will stop working and the system will become stuck in one mode. If your heat pump is stuck in one mode, call for repairs immediately.
If your heat pump is having problems, call PRK Services, Inc. We offer a full range of heat pump services throughout Krum, TX.