Why Your Heat Pump Output is Low
You really don’t want to have your heat pump start malfunctioning on you in the middle of a boiling Texas summer. Unfortunately, it’s more likely to happen then than at other parts of the year. The added demand puts more strain on the heat pump, which means more wear and tear and more chances for parts to fail. You can mitigate a lot of this with regular professional maintenance, which you hopefully had done before the start of the summer this year. Even if you did, though, that’s no guarantee that you won’t have to deal with problems of any kind.
If your heat pump output is lower than it should be, that’s a prime indication that something is wrong with the system. Have a look below at some of the reasons why this might be happening, and what you can do to fix it.
Clogged Air Filter
Perhaps the easiest thing to deal with regarding this issue is a clogged air filter. The air filter sits in the return duct for the heat pump, and prevents the dust and debris commonly found in homes’ ducts from getting into the system. While the air filter is quite good at preventing these contaminants from damaging the heat pump, it has no way of getting rid of them once they’re collected. If the air filter isn’t replaced often enough, it will become clogged. This will prevent much of the air from the ducts from entering the heat pump, which will in-turn prevent the heat pump from circulating air throughout the home. The good news is that this is easy to fix. Just replace the clogged air filter to restore proper output levels.
Refrigerant Leaks
It’s also possible that you have a refrigerant leak in the system somewhere. Heat pumps rely on refrigerant to cool the air, evaporating it to absorb heat and condensing it to release the collected heat outside. A refrigerant leak will lower the heat pump’s output capacity over time, as the available refrigerant in the system drops. At some point, the refrigerant level will drop low enough that the heat pump will break down entirely. If you notice fluid dripping from your system, in addition to the low output, contact a professional as soon as possible.
Short Cycling
If your heat pump is turning itself on and off every couple of minutes, in addition to having low output, you have a big problem. That behavior is called short cycling, and it’s a serious threat to the health of the system. Short cycling increases the rate at which the system wears down, causing all kinds of problems as parts break down under the strain. If you don’t have the issue fixed quickly enough, it could shorten the lifespan of the heat pump by several years. Make sure you call for repairs right away if you notice this happening.
PRK Services, Inc. provides a full range of heat pump repair services in Denton, TX. If you need repair services of any kind, we can help you out. Contact us today for an appointment with one of our technicians.