One of the primary benefits of using a heat pump is that it acts as both the air conditioning system as well as the heating system. However, in the case of a system malfunction, this dual-functionality becomes a potential liability.
Having a heat pump stuck in AC mode and blowing cold air rather than warm can be a problem during the winter. If you’re having this problem, it could be due to a problem with the reversing valve or with your thermostat.
Reversing Valve
The reversing valve is essentially what makes your system able to pump both cool and warm air into your home. It sits on the refrigerant line and is responsible for dictating the direction in which the refrigerant flows. The position of the slide inside the valve determine whether cool air or warm air is being pumped out. To change position of the slider, an electromagnet, the solenoid, controls its movement.
If you’re experiencing problems with a system blowing cool when it should be blowing warm or vice versa, it’s likely a problem within the reversing valve. Either the slider is broken (and needs to be fixed or replaced by a professional) or the solenoid no longer has a charge (an issue that will require replacement by a professional).
Thermostat
If your heat pump is stuck in AC mode and it’s been determined that the reversing valve and its components are functioning properly, your system may have a faulty wiring system causing an interruption in the connection between the thermostat and the heating/cooling system.
If you’re having a problem with your heat pump this winter, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our trained AC technicians. We can pinpoint the problem for you and make any necessary heat pump repairs to homes in Port St. Lucie & the surrounding area.
