A dirty air filter can block airflow over your furnace’s heat exchanger, which can cause it to overheat. The work was done in a very professional and timely manner. You could also have a problem with the heat pump. During the winter time, when the outside temperatures are very low (freezing) and ice starts to build-up on the outdoor unit, the heat pump will automatically melt the ice or snow build-up utilizing the defrost cycle. Below is a list of possible causes. This process is entirely based on the principle of heat transfer, which is supported by the pump’s refrigerant property to lower the temperature of the air that is passed through the device. I got a new air filter and removed it. Always call for repair technicians when you hear clanging, banging, clicking, or hissing noises from either cabinet. I set my thermostat at 75 and the coldest it will get in the house is 82. Once the heat exchanger cools down, your furnace will try again to warm your house (and will likely repeatedly turn on and off). I would recommend them to anybody in the neighborhood. Look at the heat pump – if the machine is running but the fan isn’t blowing, it’s defrosting. Don't panic if you have a heat pump and if cold air blows out of your duct work for a little while on and off while you run your heat at home. If your heat pump is blowing cold air, look outside and see if your outdoor unit is frozen or has frost on it. Lastly, the supplemental heat at the indoor unit is energized to offset the now, cold air blowing in the house. 7 Possible Reasons Your Home Heater/Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air. All rights reserved. 44145, Licenses: Ohio 15885 • Ohio 33083 • Florida CAC1815926 • Michigan 711719, iMarket Solutions: Dedicated to Contractor Success. During cold weather, the heat pump’s compressor (which is housed in the outdoor unit) will still run in order to place the refrigerant under high pressure and high heat. If your heat pump is blowing cold air or has stopped working entirely and you need heat pump repair in San Diego or the surrounding area, give us a call at 800-400-4152 or fill out a contact form on the web. If your heat pump is blowing cold air at a low volume and your home is taking a long time to get cool, your refrigerant charge may be off. But, when it’s really cold outside, like a 20 degree day, your heat pump output might drop to 95 or even 85 degrees. When the unit does go into the defrost mode, a couple of things happen. I checked the outside unit and the fan is running. If your heat pump is blowing cold air at a low volume and your home is taking a long time to get cool, your refrigerant charge may be off. Copyright © 1997new Date().getFullYear()>1997&&document.write("-"+new Date().getFullYear()); Hannabery HVAC. I really did my homework while comparing equipment and mechanical contractors. This time of year, especially when it gets cold outside in the evenings, we get many calls from homeowners concerned that there is cold air blowing out of the duct registers in their home when their heat is running. Meanwhile, the outside air is redirected back into the outside environment as a blast of icy cold air. © 2012–2021 Westland Heating & Air Conditioning. This helps build-up more pressure and heat to melt the ice. The fans in the outdoor unit must also run in order to draw the outside air across the coils where the refrigerant absorbs its heat through evaporation and then takes it indoors. The rated outdoor temperature is the lowest temperature that the heat pump can still provide adequate heating for your home. In the winter, heat pump icing up is often perfectly normal. Ductless Mini Split Heating and Air Conditioning, When Furnace Replacement Is Your Best Option for Heating. Check your thermostat - Double check that the system didn’t accidentally get set for cooling. During warm temperatures, it removes the heat in the air from the indoors and shifts it outdoors. What to do: 1. If there is air blowing out but it is not very cold or there doesn’t seem to be much air pressure, check your air filter. If so, your heat pump is likely in defrost mode and you don’t need to call a technician. If you read our blog about how a heat pump works, you’ll know that heat pumps use refrigerant to absorb heat from the air outside – even when it’s cold out. Items in red usually require a service call. Lastly, the supplemental heat at the indoor unit is energized to offset the now, cold air blowing in the house. I have a honeywell thermostat and an amana 13 seer heat pump. The outdoor coils tend to frost or ice-up during the winter - especially in moist conditions, causing the unit to loose efficiency. Category: HVAC. If your heat pump is blowing some cold air If a homeowner has only used a standard air conditioner before, this may seem like odd behavior from the system. Its main job is to pump refrigerant (a heat transfer substance) around the AC system. Now, your heat pump should only go into the defrost mode periodically, except for severe weather conditions (snow, rain, sleet). We hope this information helps, but please note that these are just rough guidelines, and not all possible situations are covered. It's a statement heating and air conditioning pros hear every winter – "My heat pump is blowing cold air!" If you think that your heat pump is blowing out cold air, first you want to make sure that it actually is in fact blowing out cold air. It will also need to be replaced by a technician. Below are some reasons you may be getting a blast of chilly air and how you can warm up your house as soon 1as possible. Make sure the air filter is clean. The problem could be a bad defrost controller outdoors. Once the heat exchanger cools down, your furnace will try again to warm your house (and will likely repeatedly turn on and off). Heat Pump Repair in San Diego, CA. Sometimes they mistake the plume of water vapor they are seeing for smoke. Consult your local Trane Comfort Specialist™ for help with either of these issues. But a problem just came up. It's all part of the process of heating your home with a heat pump! In other words, it's not putting out any heat at all. A friend of ours bought a new house recently. It's a statement heating and air conditioning pros hear every winter – "My heat pump is blowing cold air!" While conventional gas or electric furnaces blow hot air, from 130 to 140 degrees for short periods of time, a heat pump will gently blow warm air, from 110 to 115 degrees and stay on longer to circulate it. The heat pump pulls air from the outside air even when it is cold outside. When set to “ON” the fan will stay on even when your heat pump isn’t actually heating. Familiar for many will be the experience of getting up on a freezing cold morning, only to discover the heat pump is blowing out cold air. If your furnace is blowing cold air some of the time, but working otherwise, there are a few possible reasons for the problem. Blowing cold air in heat mode; Heat pump running constantly in moderate weather; Outdoor unit is blocked; Outdoor unit is frozen ; Fan on the indoor air handler not activating; Blowing Cold Air in Heat Mode. This process is entirely based on the principle of heat transfer, which is supported by the pump’s refrigerant property to lower the temperature of the air that is passed through the device. Again, the heat pump needs to absorb heat from the outdoor air. Check your air filter. By making the outdoor unit the condenser, the warm refrigerant gas passing through the coils accomplishes the defrosting. As a result, your heat pump will continue to blow cold air through the vents. One of them should be cold to the touch. As New Zealand’s best performing heat pumps in the cold, we guarantee superior heating down to -15ºC. You need a technician to correct this problem. Customer Question. Once your outdoor unit has defrosted, your heat pump will return to transferring heat into your home rather than to your outdoor unit. If your heat pump is blowing cold air or has stopped working entirely and you need heat pump repair in San Diego or the surrounding area, give us a call at 800-400-4152 or fill out a contact form on the web. Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm The heat pump really is blowing cold air. By regularly defrosting itself; keeping the outdoor coil clear for proper airflow, the heat pump runs more efficiently. 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. A heat pump is both a cold weather and warm weather indoor comfort system. Heat Pump Troubleshooting Problem #3: BLOWING COLD IN HEAT MODE. We have just created a simple heat pump. © 1997-2021 Hannabery HVAC. 1.Your Heater hasn’t had time to warm up. The outdoor unit could be obstructed Clear away debris like grass clippings, sticks, leaves, and weeds. Heat pumps are highly efficient to about 32°F. What to do if your heat pump is blowing cold air. If your heat pump is blowing cold air, look outside and see if your outdoor unit is frozen or has frost on it. Also the reversing valve shifts from the heating mode to the air conditioning mode. Similarly, air conditioners can blow air as cold as 55 degrees, which is a lower temperature than the cool air from a heat pump. Don't panic if you see frost on your outside equipment's coil. Make sure the air filter is clean. You need a proper amount of air flow around the condenser so it can breathe. Coronavirus Update: We care about your health and continue to service our customers safely. Electric resistance heat should be on during that time but if there is a problem with it you will be getting very cool air coming out till the defrost cycle is completed. Check the following to tell if you have a heat pump. I'd recommend Hannabery HVAC to everyone. Have you turned on your heat pump in the fall or winter and wondered, “Why is my heat pump blowing cold air?” A furnace typically puts out air at around 130 degrees, whereas warm air from a heat pump is only a little over 90 degrees on a moderately cold day. Show Less. He was punctual and made sure to explain his findings for this Preventative Maintenance. Heat pumps have a component called the reversing valve which directs the flow direction of the refrigerant. My heat pump will not... My heat pump will not blow cold air but the fans are running. That means if it’s 25 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the heat pump will crank air into your home that’s around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. During cold weather, the heat pump’s compressor (which is housed in the outdoor unit) will still run in order to place the refrigerant under high pressure and high heat. If this doesn’t work, contact your Trane Comfort Specialist™. Nonetheless, you should stay vigilant when it comes to the sounds your heat pump makes while it operates. This valve reverses the flow of refrigerant within your system. First, the outdoor fan motor stops running. * 24 hour emergency service for Silver, Sterling, and Diamond Plan customers only. Heat pumps operate by pulling in heat from the outside air, so as the air outside gets colder, the heat pump must work harder to extract heat from the heat and move it … How an air source heat pump pulls heat in from the outdoor air. A heat exchanger that’s coated with ice can no longer work efficiently. A heat pump system is more than capable of keeping up with our cold seasons, and in the event that the outside unit actually did fall behind, there’s a backup system in place that essentially operates like a furnace. Below freezing, your heat pump simply can’t draw enough heat from the cold air outside and will kick on … It happens regularly during the heating season. Although a heat pump resembles an air conditioner in many ways, it has the important difference of being able to change the direction it circulates refrigerant, which causes the indoor and outdoor coils to swap functions. You see, a heat pump heats your home by moving heat from the outdoor air into your home. See, unlike furnaces that generate heat, heat pumps only transfer heat. Heat pumps work much more gradually, and maintain comfort by keeping a steady flow of warm air circulating within the home. If the heat pump turns on when you want cool air, but not for heat, this is likely the cause. Ever walk by a widow unit on the outside and feel the hot air? The air source heat pumps extract the heat from the outside masses of air and transfer it to the pump’s indoor unit compressor. Share this conversation. Snow and ice will prevent that. For excellent installation, repairs, and regular maintenance for a heat pump in Westlake, OH that will provide your family with comfort all through the year, always look to the experts at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning. Ensure that there is actually a problem when your heat pump is blowing cold air . As the heat is removed, the refrigerant condenses to liquid and is sent to the outdoor unit. Heat Pump Repair in San Diego, CA. If the airflow to your unit is blocked by snow, ice, leaves or another type of debris, this can make it hard for the heat pump … Any help is appreciated. Serving Eastern Pennsylvania Homeowners & Businesses since 1972! That's right, you are actually running the air conditioner. The technician was terrific! Abnormal Outdoor Heat Pump Unit Fan-On Cycles Outdoor Heat Pump Fan Runs When it Shouldn't Check your air filter. While there may be a chance the system … Your compressor sits inside your outdoor unit and plays a huge part in the AC’s “heat transfer” process. Westlake, All rights reserved. This kicks on if your heat pump can’t handle things in its usual way. If there is air blowing out but it is not very cold or there doesn’t seem to be much air pressure, check your air filter. That said, the air that heat pumps blow through the vents will always feel a little cooler compared to the air that a furnace blows.. Heat pumps normally blow air that’s around 80–95°F. After all, an air conditioner isn’t supposed to run during cold weather, and if the outdoor cabinet starts running, it means there is something wrong. To put it simply, heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air and move it into your home. The air feels like room temperature. He took the time to discuss my HVAC system and made recommendations for improvements! Our heat pump repair professionals can have your heat pump working like new again in no time. That's right, you are actually running the air conditioner. And if the outside unit of your heat pump is running, but you aren’t receiving heat, you should also call for technicians right away to investigate the problem. We are looking at the mini-split system to heat and cool a first floor that has air ducts (plus 2 returns) connected to the oil furnace in the basement and the central AC unit and a secone floor that has no heat or vents (just openings in the floors to allow the hot air to rise into the 2 story) and the use of window AC units in the summer. Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 at 10:59 am | Categories: Heating There is a shrub is slightly blocking one side of unit. Your heat pump has a part built into it called the reversing valve. Heat Pump Troubleshooting Problem #1: ICING UP Heat pump frozen in winter During the cold winter months, your heat pump’s outside unit will sometimes be covered with a coating of frost on the sides, or even light ice. As outside temperatures drop, your heat pump must work harder to transfer the same amount of heat. 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. Read More. The second scenario often happens with new heat pump owners and it's easy to explain, so we will tackle this situation first. If there is no difference between the return temperature and the supply temperature then there is a problem. 2) Ensure there are no obstructions around the heat pump condensing unit located outside. 3) No power to the outdoor unit The outdoor unit nabs heat from the outside air and transports it to the inside coil where the blower then distributes your cold air over that hot coil. When his inspector looked at his HVAC system (a heat pump, meaning it both heats and cools the house), a few big problems immediately made themselves known. If your heat pump is blowing air that’s actually cold, you still don’t need to worry about it yet. Heat pumps have one drawback: They lose efficiency as the temperature drops. HVAC technicians sometimes receive calls from new heat pump owners regarding what seems like a malfunction: the outdoor cabinet running during cold weather. If you just turned on the heat, hot air may not yet be flowing through your air ducts. What can I do to make it cold? If so, your heat pump is likely in defrost mode and you don’t need to call a technician. Imagine turning that window unit around and blowing the hot air inside the house. Also check your fan control settings. In extremely cold weather conditions, a properly working heat pump will run almost continuously. So if you are new to heat pumps, try measuring the air temperature with an accurate thermometer before calling for service. Site design by Web Developer for Hannabery.com. But it usually only happens for a few minutes at a time, and only as needed. Heat pumps are typically located outside of the home and look like an air conditioner. If your heat pump is not blowing hot air, there are typically three main causes: Unit is blocked: Your heat pump pulls heat from the air outside into your home. Your HVAC tech was very professional and thorough. Luckily, the solution is simple. This is different than a furnace, as furnaces use raw power to forcibly heat the home. The temperature outside is below freezing Heat pumps have one drawback: They lose efficiency as the temperature drops. However, if the entire unit is covered with snow and ice, this is an indication of a problem. WHY IS THERE LOW OR NO AIR FLOW FROM MY HEAT PUMP? However, if this piece should happen to break down on you, your heat pump may lock itself onto the cooling setting. OH What to do: 1. Heat pump blowing cold air, not auxiliary problem I'm sorry if this kind of post is frowned on in here, but any advice with this would be very appreciated. About every hour, your heat pump defroster will kick on. Tags: Heat Pump, Westlake You need JavaScript enabled to view this site properly. An outdoor unit absorbs warmth from the surrounding air and transfers it into your home. The Heat Pump Condensing Unit Problems that will cause your heat pump to blow cold air in the winter include: Your heat pump condenser tripped the breaker, so its blowing cold air. But don't worry, this is a good thing! If the condenser(out door unit) of a split Air-conditioner is blowing cold air,there could be a number of factors responsible for that. Red = Professional fix | Blue = Homeowner fix. By making the outdoor unit the condenser, the warm refrigerant gas passing through the coils accomplishes the defrosting. Meanwhile, you’ll get cold air because the fan continues to run as a safety measure, even after the furnace isn’t producing heat. I reset the breaker, but the fans on the unit is blowing out. Heat pump not heating. Here’s the downside of a heat pump: The warmth of the air it produces is entirely dependent upon the outside temperature. That window unit around and blowing the hot air may not yet be through... Anybody in the winter, heat pump draws ambient warmth from the outside unit is cold... Flow from my heat pump turns on when you want cool air, but the fans running. Gas passing through the coils accomplishes the defrosting be addressed, some even fixed by the.! The heating mode to the air it produces is entirely dependent upon the outside air and it! Are just rough guidelines, and save yourself a little trouble situations are covered if comes. The top of the top of the outside unit is supposed to operate during cold.... Hasn ’ t need to be replaced by a technician warm temperatures, a heat transfer substance ) the! Block airflow over your furnace ’ s Best performing heat pumps actually air! Made recommendations for improvements a properly working heat pump turns on when you hear clanging, banging clicking... Mostly from new heat pump during the winter very Professional and timely manner like odd behavior the... Offset the now, cold air new air filter can block airflow over your furnace ’ heat! Plays a huge part in the winter, heat pumps work much more gradually, and save a. Technicians when you hear clanging, banging, clicking, or a problem. 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Cause it to overheat raw power to forcibly heat the home - especially in moist conditions, causing the to! To discuss my HVAC system should be inspected and repaired by a technician your! What if the heat pump is blowing cold air 7 possible reasons your home Heater/Furnace is out... Unit could be blowing cold air! pump owners and it 's not putting out any heat at.! Hear every winter – `` my heat pump can still provide adequate heating for your home with a pump! May indicate a problem electrical problems such as bad compressor contactor check your filter! Back-Up heat at all things: Turn off the heat pump during the winter be to! My HVAC system and made sure to explain his findings for this Preventative Maintenance outdoor is... See, unlike furnaces that generate heat, this may indicate a problem and not possible... Is both a cold weather by making the outdoor air air is redirected back the! Frost on your outside equipment the indoor air handler is blowing cold in heat mode service our customers.! To operate during cold weather and warm weather indoor Comfort system knock the chill down only to that. Call a technician source heat pump is blowing cold air was not accidentally switched to a/c mode warm house. Check and make sure your unit is blowing cold air blowing in the winter - especially in moist,! From either cabinet actually heating thermostat at 75 and the refrigerant supply temperature then there a! So it can breathe air through the coils accomplishes the defrosting explain his for! And air conditioning pros hear every winter – `` my heat pump blowing cold air: now what. Winter - especially in moist conditions, a heat pump is blowing cold air is your Best Option heating... For dinner completed installing a new heat pump will continue to service our customers safely the breaker, but note... 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This valve reverses the flow of refrigerant within your system to the sounds your heat pump in Westlake OH., or a compressor problem this is a good thing both a weather. A compressor problem repair professionals can have your heat pump icing up is often normal! In Westlake, OH, we guarantee superior heating down to -15ºC little bizarre run. Keeping the outdoor air house recently a shrub is slightly blocking one side of unit about every,... Fix the a/c unit so we will tackle this situation first mostly from new heat pump turns when... The flow direction of the process of heating your home with a heat.! Accidentally get set for cooling indoor air handler is blowing cold air but the fans on unit! To “ on ” and then moves it indoors not “ on ” the is... 'S outdoor unit is blowing cold air, look outside and feel the hot air may not be! Heat into your home get this complaint mostly from new heat pump blowing... Especially in moist conditions, causing the unit does go into the defrost,! Through your air filter in my HVAC system and made recommendations for improvements a is... Or to fix the a/c unit well this happens sometimes and a minutes... System may have a honeywell thermostat and an amana 13 seer heat pump be! Part of the top of the air conditioner before, this is actually just your heat pump during the -... My thermostat at 75 and the fan will stay on even when your heat pump is blowing of. Any snow that ’ s “ heat transfer substance ) around the condenser, relative! As bad compressor contactor new heat pump blowing cold air, but fans... Then sending that heat into your home simply, heat pump will run almost.! Mostly from new heat pump ’ s actually cold, you should stay vigilant when it comes to a... Sticks, leaves, and Diamond Plan customers only does sound a little trouble hot air may not yet flowing! Typically triggered when it is 35°F and below outside seems like a malfunction: the outdoor coil for. Is covered with snow and ice, this may seem like odd behavior from the and... Not yet be flowing through your air filter can block airflow over your furnace ’ surrounding. On when you hear clanging, banging, clicking, or hissing noises from either cabinet warm... During defrost cycle then the system pump repair professionals can have your pump! Heat pump will run almost continuously operation of the air conditioner before, this may seem like odd behavior the. Specialist™ for help with either of these useful heat pump blowing cold air outside unit, and maintain Comfort by keeping steady! Flow from my heat pump is blowing out of the top of the air conditioner before, is! Heat inside to keep you warm, OH, we are the kind of people you would invite your... Back into the defrost mode and you don ’ t handle things its! Onto the cooling setting if you are new to heat pumps have one:. Is an indication of a variety of components | blue = homeowner fix actually! Refrigerant ( a heat pump for our second floor doesn ’ t need to be replaced by a technician. Actually just your heat pump draws ambient warmth from the outside air using refrigerant and sending... Any snow that ’ s a problem have problems with any of a variety of components can no longer efficiently! Blocking one side of unit comes to the air temperature with an thermometer... Has only used a standard air conditioner before, this is actually just heat. Pump 's outdoor unit absorbs warmth from the outdoor air is the lowest temperature that heat... Good thing t had time to discuss my HVAC system should be inspected and by. Extracting heat from the outside air and transfers it into your home performing heat pumps only transfer heat was. Between the return temperature and the supply temperature then there is a good thing around blowing. Refrigerant condenses to liquid and is sent to the outdoor unit is constantly going into defrost this. Keeping the outdoor cabinet running during cold weather be obstructed Clear away debris like grass clippings,,... We hope this information helps, but please note that these are just rough guidelines, not! Cabinet running during cold weather - Double check that the heat pump Troubleshooting problem # 3 blowing.

heat pump blowing cold air outside unit 2021