There aren't many things more frustrating than an air conditioning that refuses to run. A hot, muggy home can make your space incredibly uncomfortable, which is why I have always focused on maintaining my air conditioning system. Unfortunately, I still run into problems from time to time and I am sure that all of you do, which is one of the reasons I decided to build this website. Check out these posts for more information about keeping your system working beautifully, even if you aren't naturally good at fixing things. You never know, making the right changes could dramatically improve your summertime experience.
Herbert Franklin
If you have a heat pump that supplies both your heat and air conditioning, you'll want to keep up with cleaning and maintenance since the unit runs most of the year. Malfunctions might still happen, and if it's in the summer, you might be left without air conditioning and need to call an HVAC repair technician for help. Here are some possible problems you might have with your heat pump in the summer.
1. The Refrigerant Is Leaking Out
Leaking refrigerant leads to all kinds of problems. Your AC may run but not cool your home. Eventually, the AC stops cooling completely when the refrigerant gets too low or runs out. Any refrigerant problem has to be fixed by a licensed HVAC technician according to laws that pertain to handling refrigerant.
The technician can check the pressure in the refrigerant lines to confirm a leak. Then they have to find the leak and repair it. This might be done by soldering on a copper patch since the lines are made from copper.
2. The Thermostat Is Bad Or Set Wrong
When your air conditioning isn't working right, one thing you can check right away is the thermostat to make sure it is on the right settings and that it seems to be controlling the heat pump correctly. If the thermostat is old and malfunctioning, the repair technician might suggest replacing it with a newer model.
3. Air Circulation Is Restricted
Air needs to circulate around the blower and the condenser outdoors. Check the filter since a dirty filter is a common cause of AC malfunctions. Also, check the condenser outside to make sure nothing is against the sides that might block airflow. Another reason airflow might be restricted is when the blower unit gets too dirty due to lack of maintenance. When this happens, the repair technician can open up the blower and clean out the parts.
4. The Blower Is Bad
The blower has to be functional to blow conditioned air through your house. The blower might be positioned improperly if it has vibrated loose, or the blower motor might be bad. If the blower isn't working, the repair technician has to figure out why so repairs can be done.
5. The Reversing Valve Is Malfunctioning
The reversing valve is a part of a heat pump that switches the equipment from a heater to an air conditioner and back. If the valve switches to heat mode in the summer, warm air could blow out rather than cool air. You can try to reset the valve by switching the valve to heat and then back to AC, but if the valve is stuck, the technician may need to replace it. The valve has to be functional all year for both the heat and air conditioning to work properly.
Contact a local AC service to learn more.