Just like your refrigerator and air conditioner, a heat pump requires refrigerant to work. Yet unfortunately, many homeowners don’t discover that their heat pump’s refrigerant levels are low until they’re experiencing a problem like icing or no heat.
Is It a Leaking Heat Pump?
Within your HVAC system, your air conditioner and heat pump both rely on refrigerant to provide an optimal temperature inside your home. And, it shouldn’t dissipate during operation. Instead, your HVAC system should convert refrigerant from liquid to gas and vice versa – never decreasing in volume. However, leaks can happen, and they often occur at connector points.
During the cold winter months, often the first sign of a refrigerant leak is an indoor temperature that begins to drop. You may notice that the heater seems to be running continuously. Yet, the temperature doesn’t seem to be matching the thermostat setting. If it’s getting chilly, and the heat doesn’t seem to be where it should be, it’s time to call for a technician.
What About Icing?
When a heat pump is leaking refrigerant, there’s often a snowball effect of problems. The first of these can be the heat pump’s evaporator coil. Because heat absorption is the refrigerant’s purpose, leaking refrigerant can prevent the coil from absorbing heat. This ultimately causes moisture on the evaporator coil to ice over. You may be tempted to scrape off the ice but note that this isn’t going to solve the problem. What you actually need to do is call an HVAC technician who can both seal the leak and add the necessary refrigerant to enable your system to operate efficiently.
Don’t Neglect a Refrigerant Leak
Low refrigerant isn’t an HVAC problem to put off for another day. The stress caused by this problem can leave you in the cold, as well as impact the compressor and drive up electrical costs. If you’re struggling with a lack of heat, call the experts at Cool Blew. We’re here to help you identify the cause of the problem and ensure that you’re up and running as quickly as possible.
