With summertime highs that often reach into the 90s, the heat pump in your Daphne, AL home is an important tool for keeping you comfortable. However, those higher temperatures can cause some issues for your HVAC system. Find out more about five heat pump problems that you might encounter during the high temperatures of summertime in the south.
Reduced Effectiveness on Hot Days
Your heat pump can handle a wide range of temperatures, but when outdoor temperatures get to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your system becomes less effective. During these periods, you’ll probably notice the system running more, even though the indoor temperature on your thermostat may continue to rise.
There are steps you can take to help keep your system running as designed. Prompt attention to repairs and regular maintenance ensures that your heat pump’s components are ready to face high temperatures.
Changes in Cycling Patterns
Cycling refers to your heat pump’s pattern of running. Typically, you should expect your heat pump to run for somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes. This leads to two to three cycles each hour.
Even with the best insulation, you will lose some cooling through walls, windows and doors. When summertime temperatures reach their highest, you may notice your heat pump running a lot to achieve your set point.
What may be counterintuitive is that this added strain can lead to short cycling. Short cycling happens when your heat pump turns off before achieving the temperature that you set on your thermostat. Sometimes, a heat pump that works too hard turns off to prevent overheating or other damage.
Strange Noises Coming From the Outdoor Unit
The outdoor condenser unit performs many functions, including circulating refrigerant. It also has a fan to help release the heat into the outdoor air. This unit works extra hard when summer temperatures rise.
This increased workload puts a lot of stress on this unit’s internal components. One of the most common signs that you need heat pump repairs is strange sounds coming from the outdoor unit. Banging, clanging, whistling and other sounds typically indicate that something is wrong, and those problems often stem from overuse.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
Just like a standard air conditioner, heat pumps use refrigerant to transfer heat from one place to another. The refrigerant flows through the evaporator coils in the indoor air handler. A by-product of this process is condensation forming on the coils, which usually drips into a pan and drains down a tube.
Several scenarios can cause this condensation to freeze on the coils. This blocks the airflow and prevents the system from cooling your home.
One common cause of frozen coils is low refrigerant due to a leak. High humidity levels can also exacerbate problems with frozen coils.
Additionally, a clogged air filter can prevent warm air from reaching your evaporator coils, which causes them to cool down too quickly. Since pollen and other allergens are prevalent in the summer, filters fill with debris more quickly than usual. This also affects your indoor air quality.
Low Levels of Refrigerant
Besides frozen coils, signs of low refrigerant include warmer air from the vents and the system taking longer to cool. Because refrigerant is in a closed loop system, the only way it diminishes is through a leak. When your heat pump runs more, the chance of those tubes suffering damage increases.
A single puncture in one of your refrigerant lines can make it impossible for your heat pump to function correctly. If you suspect a refrigerant leak, call for professional heat pump service as quickly as possible.
Staying cool in the summer requires a reliable heat pump. Our team has been keeping our neighbors in the Daphne, AL area comfortable in the summertime since 1993. Call Air Specialty today to find out more about our professional HVAC services.
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