Why Is My Heat Pump Always Cycling On and Off?

Your Folly Beach, SC heat pump is the key to keeping your home comfortable throughout the year. If you find that your house doesn’t get as comfortable as you’d like and your unit keeps cycling on and off repeatedly, though, there might be an issue. Discover what causes your heat pump to always cycle on and off and what you can do about it.

Dirty Air Filter

A dirty air filter restricts air from flowing through the heat pump effectively. This causes the coils to become too cold, which then trips the sensors designed to protect them from damage. Check your air filter monthly to ensure that it’s clean enough to pass air freely through the system.

Low Refrigerant

Your system transfers heat using refrigerant. When the refrigerant pressure drops, it’s not able to complete the heating or cooling cycle correctly. Refrigerant is a normal part of your heat pump’s cooling and heating cycle, but if there’s a leak anywhere in the line, the pressure can drop farther than intended and freeze the coils, leading to short cycling.

The best way to keep tabs on the level of refrigerant in your system is through routine heat pump maintenance. Your technician will check the level of refrigerant during this maintenance visit. Low refrigerant may indicate a leak, and finding it early allows you to fix it before causing further damage.

Oversized System

Heat pumps aren’t one-size-fits-all, as they vary in heating and cooling power; each house requires a different amount of power, called a “load.” If you use a heat pump that’s too powerful for your home, it will reach the set temperature too quickly, which can lead to uneven temperatures throughout your space and trigger the system to cycle back on sooner than it should.

Problematic Thermostat

Finally, the placement of your thermostat is critical. If it’s in direct sunlight or directly above a supply register, it may not read an accurate temperature. Avoid this by placing it on an interior wall, away from supply vents.

Don’t let a short cycling heat pump keep you from being comfortable in your home. Call to schedule your heat pump repair with one of the expert technicians with AC Heating and Air Conditioning Services.

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