One of the most frustrating problems a home owner can have is trying to find out why a major appliance is not working properly. In fact, it is estimated that over 65% of all home owners will always defer to calling a service repair expert instead of trying to diagnose a problem themselves. Whether this is due to lack of motivation or simply not having the time to fuss about what’s causing an issue, the facts remain that some of today’s common heat pump problems and other issues with HVAC equipment can easily be remedied by knowing how to diagnose a problem.
If you have a heat pump system and are experiencing a few problems with the heat or cooling inside your home, here are four simple things to check to help you self-diagnose a problem with the heat pump system before calling the service professional.
Step #1 – Check the Thermostat
If you notice that your heat pump system is not heating or cooling your house properly, the first step in diagnosing any problem will always be the simplest option. And for most people, this begins by checking the thermostat of the heat pump system. Here are a few things to check specifically:
- Make sure the thermostat is set in the “ON” position. We know that sounds simple, but believe it or not, most of the time, this is the issue.
- Once you verified that the system is ‘ON’, you’ll next want to check the temperature setting. If you have a digital thermostat, a good way to see if the heat pump is working is to set the temperature about 5 degrees higher than the current room temperature. This should trigger the system to turn ‘ON’.
If you notice that the heat pump is operating, but don’t feel any heat or cool air coming from vents, then you can check the thermostat off the list of items that is ‘broken’.
Step #2 – Check the Fan
The next possible problem with your heat pump system at this point is most likely the fan or air handler of a heat pump system. If you verify that the heat pump system is operational in the first step, but didn’t see or feel air coming into the house, follow these simple steps:
- Check the fuse box or breakers inside your home that powers the heat pump fans. If the breaker is tripped, reset the breaker and test the heat pump again. However, it’s a good idea to contact a professional heat pump repair specialist to find out why the fan tripped the circuit.
- If the circuit was not tripped, the problem of the heat pump fan is most likely due to a poor wire connection or a broken motor for the heat pump fan. At this point, you’ll need to contact the professionals to fix the problem.
Step #3 – Check the Outdoor Heat Pump Unit
Once you’ve verified that the problem is not with the thermostat, or not the fan, then perhaps it’s an issue with the outdoor heat pump itself. Here are a few things in Arizona to verify before calling the pros.
- Check to see if any debris is covering the heat pump.
- Check to see if you have frost of ice built up on the unit.
- Check to see if any electrical lines are cut.
If you are having heat pump problems, the best advice we can give you is to follow this three-quick step process to try and self-diagnose a potential problem. If after checking all three, contact a professional and reliable heat pump repair specialist to handle the actual repairs of the unit.