Now is a good time to talk about a pretty interesting topic for a lot of our heat pump owners in the area. Temperatures are not as hot as they were in the summer, so it makes sense that your heat pump should be enjoying a bit of a break, right? Well, that might not be the case.
You might be feeling uncomfortable in your home, only to investigate and find out that your heat pump is overheating on a regular basis. It shuts down and your home gets too cold or too warm and there’s nothing you can do about it. Why does this keep happening?
Well, you’re asking the right questions. This is a problem that can occur due to many different factors. But we’re here with the answers! Just keep reading and make sure you’ve got our number on standby for heat pump repair in Melbourne, FL.
Detecting an Overheated Heat Pump
Overheating can seem like a complicated problem to detect, but there are some fundamental signs that can be easier for some homeowners.
First things first, a heat pump has an automatic detection system that shuts the unit down when it reaches a certain temperature. In order to preserve the integrity of certain components and to avoid a total breakdown, it will shut down prematurely when it reaches overheated status. So, if your heat pump keeps shutting itself down, it’s likely due to overheating.
Also, you can put your hand on the heat pump itself and feel it while it runs. If it’s hot to the touch, to the point where you can’t keep your fingers on it comfortably, then it’s likely too hot and overheating.
Reasons for Overheating
Here are a few of the most common reasons for an overheating heat pump.
- Clogged air filter. Your air filter needs to be changed out or replaced every 1-3 months, otherwise, it could lead to an overheating heat pump and other additional problems. Always do this first to ensure that the problem isn’t something you can solve for free.
- Refrigerant leak. Without enough refrigerant to run in a complete cycle, a heat pump could overheat. This is one of the most common reasons for an overheating heat pump, and it requires professional support.
- Bad thermostat settings. If your thermostat is set too low or too high, the heat pump will work for too long and too hard until it overheats and shuts down. Make sure you set your thermostat to a nominal temperature threshold.
- Poor insulation. If your air conditioning or heating is leaking easily from your home, your heat pump will likely be working much harder than it should. This could lead to overheating.
- Old components. Old components simply get worn down and allow the system to overheat more easily. This can happen when your compressor gets old, especially.
If any of these problems sound familiar, you can always count on our team of expert technicians to fix the problem and leave you better than when you called us.
Schedule an appointment with Complete Air & Heat, Inc. Making families happy on the Space Coast since 1975!