When your heat pump doesn’t perform as expected throughout the summer months, Georgia and Alabama homeowners need to find a quick solution to restore comfort to their homes. Energy Savers outlines common reasons heat pumps stop working and what repairs need to be made to correct them.

Reasons Why Your Heat Pump Isn’t Cooling

The reasons a heat pump might not be cooling your home properly range from minor to complicated – our HVAC professionals explain a variety of heat pump-related issues and how they are fixed. If any of these issues occur with your heat pump this summer, try the solutions mentioned, or contact us to schedule a heat pump repair service.

Thermostat Isn’t Set Correctly

If your heat pump isn’t cooling – whether it won’t turn on or only blows warm air – a thermostat error is a possible cause. Cooling mode needs to be selected on the thermostat for the heat pump to run cooling cycles. If heat mode is selected, the heat pump will continue to run heating cycles and pump heat into your living areas.

If your heat pump doesn’t cool your home when you expect it to, check your thermostat’s temperature settings. It’s possible that an old settings program was selected by accident, or the set point has been turned up higher by someone else, so the system doesn’t run when you expect it to cycle.

Heat Pump Stuck in Heating Mode

If your heat pump runs but it only delivers heat indoors – and your thermostat is accurately set to cooling mode – it’s possible the system’s reversing valve is stuck. If this occurs, the component that allows the system to flip flop between heating and air conditioning functionalities doesn’t work as it should, preventing the system from running in cooling mode.

A stuck reversing valve is typically caused by a bad solenoid – so the reversing valve is never signaled to open – or the slide within the valve has become stuck and will not allow the valve to open. These issues can be corrected through a repair performed by a professional, as either the slide will need resetting or the solenoid needs to be replaced.

Heat Pump Won’t Turn On

If the heat pump won’t turn on at all and the thermostat is accurately set, a power problem could be responsible for the heat pump not cooling. Check power sources to ensure the heat pump is powered.

Check breakers at the home’s electrical panel – make sure the breakers powering heat pump indoor and outdoor equipment are properly set.
Check on/off switches located on or near both indoor and outdoor system components – make sure they are both set to ON.
Check the outdoor unit for a reset button that could have been triggered – press the reset button once to see if the problem is corrected (if you have to push the reset more than once to get the heat pump running, a bigger problem is at play which requires a professional to diagnose).

Heat Pump Is Frozen

If your heat pump ices over during the summer season, there is an issue present that prevents appropriate heat transfer. Some of the issues could include:

Low refrigerant – When refrigerant escapes the system through a leak, not enough refrigerant is left in the system to perform heat exchange. The source of the leak must be identified and sealed, then the system recharged with adequate refrigerant. These tasks must be performed by an EPA-certified HVAC technician .
Dirty air filter – A dirty air filter prevents air movement through the system, which is required for the heat pump to properly function. Remove the old filter, and insert a new replacement.
Dirty coils – Heat pumps use indoor evaporator coils and outdoor condenser coils to absorb and release heat respectively during the cooling process. If a coil’s surface is dirty, it may not perform correctly. Schedule coil cleaning with your HVAC contractor to refresh the coils and remove buildup.

Moving forward, work to prevent dirty coils and filters through regular maintenance. Remove dust buildup from the system and replace your air filter at least every 90 days. These tasks help prevent wear and tear to your system, extend the life expectancy of your heat pump or furnace and save you money in the long run.

Blower Doesn’t Work

If your system runs but your heat pump isn’t cooling, a blower malfunction may be the cause. Without the blower’s operation, no cool air can be circulated through the vents into your living area, despite the system properly cooling it.

Check the fan settings on the thermostat to make sure it’s set to AUTO and has not been turned off. If a simple settings error isn’t the cause of your heat pump not cooling, the system’s limit switch may require adjustment.

Call Energy Savers to Fix a Heat Pump Not Cooling

Is your heat pump not cooling despite troubleshooting efforts? If this is the case, it’s time to call a professional for repair services. Contact Energy Savers today , and make an appointment for heat pump repair to restore comfort inside your Georgia or Alabama home.