The days are starting to warm up, and that means more people are going to be relying on their various air conditioning systems to keep them cool on a regular basis. More use means more strain on the system, which leads to greater chances of problems developing. You should know what kinds of problems can develop with your air conditioner during this time of year, so that you can call for repairs as soon as you notice the symptoms. Read on to find out more about heat pump problems you may have to deal with this summer.
Refrigerant Leaks
A heat pump cools your home in the same way that any other air conditioner does: by evaporating refrigerant to absorb heat from the air. The refrigerant is then condensed back into liquid in the outside unit, which vents the heat out of the home. The refrigerant is not consumed, but is recycled back and forth during this process. If a leak develops in the refrigerant line, it will drain the system of the fluid that it needs to cool your home. This will cause a steady drop in output, followed by a full breakdown. If you notice liquid dripping from your heat pump, call for repairs.
Frozen Coils
As the indoor coil evaporates refrigerant to cool your home, the temperature of the air around the coil will drop. Condensation will also form on the coil as the air is cooled past the dew point. Normally, the constant flow of warm air from the home will keep the temperature around the coil within reasonable limits. If the flow of air to the coil is interrupted, however, the temperature can drop low enough to freeze the condensate and make the coil ice over. This will prevent the heat pump from cooling properly.
Douglas Cooling & Heating offers heat pump repair services throughout Birmingham, AL.
