There’s nothing like a heat pump in your home providing warmth during the cold winter months. Like most appliances, you expect it to work as intended after a few adjustments on your thermostat. But what if it doesn’t? What could be the reason why your heat pump isn’t in heating mode? Trusted HVAC repair contractor Schmitt Heating & Air Conditioning answers this question below.
Heat pumps are a great way for San Francisco homeowners to heat their homes efficiently. But are they as efficient during cold weather? In this blog post, Schmitt Heating & Air Conditioning discusses how cold weather affects heat pump efficiency.
Turning on your heat pump for the first time of the season can sometimes trip the circuit breaker, which is a relatively normal occurrence. However, if this happens frequently, it could be a sign of a problem that needs corrected. In today’s post, the HVAC contractors at Schmitt share a look at what causes heating systems to trip the circuit breaker and what can be done to prevent this.
If you’ve always used your heat pump over the years, then you’ve probably wondered when your unit needs replacing. Even if you’ve maintained it over the years along with the occasional HVAC repair job, you might be thinking that maybe replacing your unit would be better than having to spend for repairs from time to time. It makes sense if your unit is too old, but just to make sure, you need to consider these things first. Read more
San Francisco winters are mild and rarely extreme, making it one of the many areas where a heat pump is a viable heating and air conditioning option. Unlike other types of HVAC systems, heat pumps don’t “produce” warm or cold air. Instead, they transfer heat from one place to another. This means it can function as either a heater or a cooler, depending on the season. Read more
Upgrading heating and cooling systems in an old house can be a challenge because these buildings aren’t designed to accommodate modern HVAC systems. In this blog, local HVAC company Schmitt shares an overview of the best ways to heat and cool old houses.
Heat pump systems are designed to last for decades without needing frequent air conditioning or heating repairs. The reason behind their incredible efficiency is because unlike other HVAC systems, heat pumps move the heat around, instead of producing its own heat like boilers or furnaces.
Like any commercial appliance, heat pumps sometimes have mechanical issues. Below are troubleshooting ideas for some of the more common problems.
If the top of your unit has a lot of ice, if ice is incasing the coils, or if the whole unit has a thick sheet of ice and snow covering it, you’ll want to take action. That much ice can prevent heat from transferring between the refrigerant and the air outside, and it will impede the heat pump’s operation. Any heat pump covered in ice should be attended to quickly, or the unit could become severely damaged.
What you’ll need to do to fix your unit is dependent upon the type of problem it’s experiencing.
In order to troubleshoot the issue, melt the ice with water from a hose (never use a pointy object). Remove any debris or snow that is blocking the unit. See if any leaking gutters are causing water to drip onto the unit. Repair any you find. Call your HVAC company to troubleshoot further.
A heat pump can run constantly in the summer if it is set to a low temperature in very hot weather. If this isn’t the case, your system might be too small and thus be unable to adequately heat the space, or the space may not be insulated well enough to retain the heat. Another culprit is a system that hasn’t had yearly maintenance, as it may have a buildup of debris.
Heat pumps run longer and heat less than furnaces. However, if in the winter the temperature is warmer than the mid-30s and you still find that it’s running all the time, you might have leaking refrigerant, a compressor problem or a frozen outdoor unit. A service technician can help you determine the problem.
Your HVAC company can help you with ice problems and systems that run too frequently. The company can also help with heat pumps that blow cold air instead of warm. Whatever type of issue your heat pump is experiencing, a qualified technician can help determine and fix the problem.
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