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How To Tell If Your Heat Pump Needs to be Repaired

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Hiring heat pump contractors to keep a system working properly is an excellent investment, but you'll also likely want to know when to call one for help. The output of a unit may slowly decline instead of the system totally failing, and that can make it challenging to even notice issues until they becomes problematic. By checking for these five signs of trouble, you'll know when to get in touch with a heat pump services firm.

Slow to Heat Up

As a heat pump ages, you can expect it to take a little longer to start blowing warm air, but it should never take more than a few minutes. Heating elements can degrade over many uses, so this may be a simpler fix than you might expect. You may also be dealing with a blower motor that's underperforming. Having a professional take a look will help you run down the issue.

Blowing Very Cold Air

If a system seems to be blowing very cold air, you'll definitely want to get heat pump contractors in to check it out. The problem can occur for a number of reasons, but the most concerning is that there may be a refrigerant leak. Most units also have a defrost mode that can get stuck.

Electric Bill Shoots Up

Like many systems that handle the exchange of hot and cold, heat pumps don't always undergo complete failures. One sign that a unit is experiencing a partial failure is that it is pulling more electricity in order to achieve the same results. If you see the electric bill go up, a heat pump services company can determine whether your setup is the cause. As an added bonus, your contractor may also be able to perform some upgrades that might improve the efficiency of your configuration.

Noise

Heat pumps should operate fairly quietly, so any noises you hear are likely a sign of trouble. Squealing noises, for example, may be an indication that the blower motor is starting to go, as are rattling sounds and other vibrations. Should you hear any scraping sounds, shut the system down immediately and get a contractor in to inspect it.

Smells

Your heat pump should absolutely not be putting out any unusual smells, especially if you've kept up with the schedule for replacing its attached air filters. A technician can check for failed electrical components and possible blockages in the system.


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