The last thing you want is for your Barefoot Bay, FL, heat pump to stop working in the summer. However, the summer heat can put extra strain on your system. During the summer, you might notice your heat pump has one or more of these common summertime issues:
Bad Smells
If your home develops an unpleasant smell during the summer, like the scent of musty laundry, it’s possibly because of your heat pump. A musty odor can occur if there’s a buildup of dirt and grime in the system or an accumulation of biological contaminants. If the heat pump doesn’t drain properly, condensation can give these contaminants an environment where to grow.
In addition to a musty odor, biological contaminants in your system can affect the actual air quality in your home. When your home’s air quality isn’t the best, it can exacerbate breathing problems or aggravate allergies.
Your heat pump could also emit a burning smell in the summertime. You might get this problem if your system overheats because it’s not cooling properly. The cooling issue is often the result of insufficient airflow.
More Noise
The heat pump usually makes a bit of noise when it’s in operation. If you hear anything other than the typical noise, or if the sounds become louder than normal out of nowhere, it’s possibly cause for concern.
Banging and clanging noises could indicate a problem with the heat pump’s fan. A vibrating noise can possibly mean something is loose within the system.
Frozen Heat Pump
You don’t expect your heat pump to freeze during the summer, but it does happen. The coils are usually the culprit in this case, and they can freeze no matter how hot or cold it is outside.
The coils are likely to freeze if the refrigerant levels are low. Dirty air filters or poor airflow can cause this problem as well by blocking warm air from hitting the coils.
Running All the Time
Your system might constantly run in the summer if you have the thermostat set too low. The system might struggle to reach the temperature you’ve set.
The heat pump constantly running is most likely to happen if the outdoor temperature is above 100 degrees. The excessive outdoor heat is making it difficult for your system to do its job. If the system constantly runs even after the temperature drops, there’s something else causing the issue.
Dirty air filters can also affect how long a heat pump stays on. When filters are dirty, the system has to work overtime to cool the home.
Not Cooling Properly
A problem with the heat pump that starts in the winter can become more obvious when it gets hot outside. Perhaps the filter is dirty because it’s been in use since winter, or something like faulty wiring could cause a problem.
If your home isn’t getting cool enough, that could also indicate a serious issue with the entire system. In some cases, lack of cooling is an indicator that the system will soon completely stop working.
Time for a Cleaning
You might not think about it, but the coils and the fan in your system can become caked with dirt. The coils, fan and even the filters must remain clean for the system to remain efficient. If you go the entire winter without performing any heat pump maintenance, your system might not work well during the summer.
Contact Barker Air Conditioning and Heating for assistance with your heat pump. Let us find the reason your system isn’t performing as it should. We can also help with issues concerning your thermostat, indoor air quality and other HVAC-related issues.
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