Why Your Heat Pump Blows Cold Air When the Heat Is On

As its name suggests, the job of a heat pump is to pump hot air into a home. So, you might experience confusion when your heat pump starts going against the grain and blowing cold air into your space instead. In such a case, it’s clear that something isn’t quite right. To get to the bottom of the issue, consult this helpful guide on why your heat pump blows cold air when the heat is on.

An Incorrect Setting

The reason why your heat pump blows cold air when the heat is on could simply be that you’ve chosen an incorrect setting. For example, you may have your heat pump’s fan set to “on” rather than “auto.” If you do this, your heat pump will continuously blow air into your home, whether it’s heated or not. When you change the setting to “auto,” the heat pump will only pump out air that it has warmed first.

While you’re taking a look at your heat pump’s settings, it’s worth checking to make sure that you really have switched the heat on. In many cases, people think their heat pump systems have malfunctioned when in reality, they’ve accidentally set them to the “cool” or “defrost” mode.

A Refrigerant Leak

Another potential reason that can cause your heat pump to blow out cold air is that it has a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant serves the important purpose of absorbing heat from the outside air and drawing it into your home to keep the space warm. In most cases, you shouldn’t have to refill or replace the refrigerant in your heat pump since it circulates in a closed-loop system.

However, if your refrigerant line cracks, breaks, or incurs some other form of damage, the refrigerant could leak out of it. When refrigerant levels get too low, the heat pump can’t properly absorb heat and outputs cool air instead. You’ll then need to call a professional to repair the leak and refill your system’s refrigerant levels.

A Faulty Reversing Valve

The culprit behind your malfunctioning heat pump could also be a faulty reversing valve. A reversing valve controls the direction that the refrigerant in the system flows. In doing so, it determines whether your heat pump is in cooling mode or heating mode. If your reversing valve sustains damage or excessive wear and tear, it may cause the system to operate in cooling mode even though you have set it to heating mode. To resolve this issue, acquire the assistance of a professional to repair or replace the faulty reversing valve.

If your heat pump is beyond repair, you can purchase a new high-quality system at a competitive price from the Pioneer Mini Split Store. We offer a wide range of ductless and ducted split systems to keep your home comfortable all year round. To learn more about our products, contact us today.