Commonly Reported HVAC Problems:
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Steam coming from outdoor unit:
We get this complaint mostly from new heat pump owners at the beginning of each heating season. Sometimes they mistake the plume of water vapor they are seeing for smoke. Some even thinking their outdoor fan motor burned-up, because when this is happening the fan actually stops running even though the compressor continues running, sometimes making a louder than normal sound.
Heat Pump Defrosting...
But don't worry, this is a good thing! This is actually just your heat pump during the "Defrost Mode". It happens regularly during the heating season. The outdoor coils tend to frost or ice-up during the winter - especially in moist conditions, causing the unit to loose efficiency. By regularly defrosting itself; keeping the outdoor coil clear for proper airflow, the heat pump runs more efficiently.
When the unit does go into the defrost mode, a couple of things happen. First, the outdoor fan motor stops running. This helps build-up more pressure and heat to melt the ice. Also the reversing valve shifts from the heating mode to the air conditioning mode. That's right, you are actually running the air conditioner. By making the outdoor unit the condenser, the warm refrigerant gas passing through the coils accomplishes the defrosting. Lastly, the supplemental heat at the indoor unit is energized to offset the now, cold air blowing in the house.
Yes, it does sound a little bizarre to run the air conditioning and back-up heat at the same time during the winter. But it usually only happens for a few minutes at a time, and only as needed.
Now, your heat pump should only go into the defrost mode periodically, except for severe weather conditions (snow, rain, sleet). If your unit is constantly going into defrost, this may indicate a problem.
Below is a list of possible causes. Items in red usually require a service call. Items in blue however can be addressed, some even fixed by the homeowner.
- Bad defrost control
- Bad defrost sensor or thermostat
- Bad outdoor fan motor
- Low charge or restriction
- Outdoor coil blocked - possibly with leaves or ice
Please keep in mind that the information found on our website is provided free of charge and Hannabery HVAC does not assume any liability resulting from the information we provide. We hope this information helps, but please note that these are just rough guidelines, and not all possible situations are covered. Your HVAC system should be inspected and repaired by a trained technician.
How Comfortable Do You Want To Be?
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