Help! My Heat Pump Isn’t Blowing Hot Air

Do you have a heat pump in your Olympia, WA home? If so, you’re likely very happy with its performance. A heat pump’s ability to work as both a heater and an air conditioner is quite impressive. That is, until the day when it stops functioning as the one thing you need it to be! 

When it’s cold outside and your heat pump isn’t blowing hot air, that’s a frustrating situation. You may be wondering what could possibly be the reason. There are several possibilities. From a faulty reversing valve to a clogged air filter, let’s go over the most common reasons why a heat pump would be unable to generate heat.

The Reversing Valve Is Broken

The reversing valve is the most common reason why a heat pump can’t switch from cooling to heating mode and vice versa. This component reverses the flow of refrigerant in your heat pump. This is what allows it to either cool or heat your home.

However, this part is subject to wear and tear. It’s possible that the reversing valve is broken and needs to be replaced. Luckily this is an easy fix for our team. We’ll check the reversing valve to see if it can be fixed or needs to be replaced. 

There’s a Refrigerant Leak

Many homeowners don’t know that a heat pump essentially uses the same technology as a central air conditioning system. The only difference is the reversing valve mentioned above. But a heat pump needs refrigerant in order to do its job. 

Just like with central AC, when a heat pump loses refrigerant (usually because of a leak somewhere in the system) its ability to function breaks down entirely. With an AC, the result is that it can’t generate cold air. When it’s a heat pump, it won’t be able to heat in heating mode or cool in cooling mode.

One way to determine if it’s a refrigerant problem is to try switching your system to cooling mode. If the same lukewarm air comes out like it’s doing in heating mode, it could very well be a refrigerant leak. Because refrigerant is harmful to breathe in, this is a repair that should be addressed promptly.

The Air Filter Is Clogged

When was the last time you changed the air filter in your heat pump? If the answer is, “My heat pump has a filter that needs to be changed?” then this could be the likely culprit behind your heat pump’s malfunction.

Air filters are a crucial component in all HVAC systems. They’re in place to collect dirt, dust, and debris to keep it from entering the vital components of your HVAC system. When a filter becomes clogged, air can’t pass through the filter. This reduction in airflow affects the heat pump’s ability to output hot, conditioned air. 

Count on the team with the most experience. Contact the team at Sunset Air today for heat pump services in Olympia, WA.