Why Is My Heat Pump in Big Stone Gap, VA, Always Running?

A heat pump that runs constantly is no better for your home in Big Stone Gap, VA, than one that refuses to run at all. If this happens, it’ll waste energy and possibly also degrade your system. It’s important to get to the bottom of such an issue quickly. Here are some reasons your heat pump might always remain running:

Reversing Valve Issues

The reversing valve is the part of every heat pump that enables it to do double duty as both a heating and a cooling system. This valve can switch from one position to another, reversing the direction that refrigerant flows through the system.

However, issues with the valve might prevent it from working, leaving your heat pump stuck in cooling mode this winter. This may force the system to run constantly since it won’t be able to do anything to warm your home while in that mode. The particular issue with the valve might be some sort of blockage, physical damage or if the valve is a solenoid valve, an electrical problem that prevents it from operating.

Refrigerant Leak

Without an adequate quantity of refrigerant, heat pumps can’t perform heat transfer efficiently enough to meaningfully alter temperatures in your home. Hence, if some refrigerant leaks out of the system, the pump may struggle to do its job and end up remaining on continuously.

Since refrigerant is a hazardous substance, don’t try to replace it on your own. Ask a trained service technician to do so as part of a repair or maintenance visit.

Heat Pump Is Too Small

Lastly, your heat pump might simply be too small for your home. If this is so, the system will have to work as hard as possible to heat or cool your home, and even this might not be enough. The only real fix for this problem is to install another system that’s the right size.

Heat pumps should go through periodic heating cycles. If yours is running constantly, call Mid Mountain Heating & Cooling and request heat pump services in Big Stone Gap, VA.

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