While heat pumps may still be a long way from fully replacing traditional heating and air conditioning units, a growing number of homeowners are choosing to install these systems in their homes. Heat pumps owe much of their popularity to their energy efficient operation, making them an attractive choice for people in milder climates who don’t want to shoulder the increasing costs of fuel and electricity.
Despite their widespread use, many people still don’t understand exactly how they work. That’s why when a heat pump starts to behave in ways that aren’t consistent with their more traditional counterparts, owners are often quick to panic. One such issue is when the heat pump seems to be blowing out cold air even while in heating mode, which is likely to make them start fiddling with the thermostat in hopes of fixing the perceived problem. Here our experts at M&M Heating & Air Conditioning explain why this happens and whether or not it’s a cause for concern.
Is It Actually Blowing Cold Air?
Furnace and air conditioning systems blow out air at a fairly regular temperature range. For furnaces, this is usually 110 degrees, depending on your thermostat settings. Heat pumps, on the other hand, rarely reach this temperature. The average temperature of the air heat pumps circulate is around 90 degrees. This is toasty, but not quite as warm as a furnace, which can make it feel like it’s blowing cold air.
Cold Air Problems
If you’ve determined that the cold air isn’t a matter of perception, then your heat pump may be in need of serious repair. The problem can be traced back to one of the following causes.
- Reversing valve failure. As both a heating and cooling unit, a heat pump uses a reversing valve to control the movement of refrigerant from “cooling” to “heating” and vice versa. When this component fails, you’ll need to call your local HVAC professional for repairs immediately.
- Lack of maintenance. As with most other HVAC systems, heat pumps benefit greatly from regular maintenance. Schedule an inspection and tune-up to determine if a lack of maintenance is what’s actually causing the problems with cold air.
Reliable Heat Pump Services
For all your heat pump and HVAC needs, turn to our professionals at M&M, your leading provider of heating and cooling services. Give us a call at (209) 952-6580 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation and request a free estimate on new HVAC installations today.
