Home / Blog / HVAC Tips and Tricks / What Do You Do When Your Heat Pump Blows Cold Air? AVS Heating & Air Conditioning Tech Explains
What Do You Do When Your Heat Pump Blows Cold Air

A heat pump is a versatile system because it can both cool and heat homes. During summer, a heat pump extracts and transfers heat from the surrounding environment to another location. In winter, it traps and moves heat from outside to inside. A functional heat pump is nothing short of a blessing in winter. A dysfunctional or malfunctioning heat pump, on the other hand, is a major headache. Living with a malfunctioning heat pump that blows cold air can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Your heat pump blowing cold air in winter is the last thing you want. Before things get out of hand, contact our professional to help find a solution to the problem.

Why do Heat Pumps Blow Cold air?

Returning home or waking up on a chilly morning to a heat pump that blows cold air can be an unpleasant experience. Before you start thinking about different possible solutions to the problem, you must get to the root cause of the problem. Here are some common reasons why heat pumps blow cold air:

Low Refrigerant Level

Every heat pump contains refrigerant, a substance that traps heat from outside and moves it inside the home. A refrigerant leak can cause the level of refrigerant to dwindle. The remaining refrigerant is unable to absorb enough heat required to heat the home. If this is the problem you are facing, ask our HVAC expert to look into the matter.

Unclean and Unkempt Outdoor Unit

When it comes to getting the most out of your heat pump in winter, the importance of maintaining your outdoor unit cannot be emphasized enough. One of the most common reasons for a heat pump blowing cold air is unclean and unkempt coils. Dirty, clogged, or blocked heat pumps are unable to absorb enough heat from the outside. Before things get out of hand, thoroughly clean your unit.

Wrong Thermostat Setting

To ensure your heat pump blows hot air, you need to set it to heat. Sounds obvious? You would be amazed how often it happens. When pinned down by a malfunctioning heat pump, remember to check your thermostat and ensure that it’s set to heat.

Reversing Valve Problems

Heat pumps have a reversing valve that switches the device from cooling mode to heating mode. Reversing valve problems can prevent this from happening. If cold air is coming from your vents, ask our technician to inspect the system.

Wrong Fan Setting

When set to ON, the fan of your heat pump will blow air (whether it is hot or not). To prevent this from happening, set your fan to auto. When set to Auto, your fan will blow air only when it is heated.

A functional heat pump is one less thing to worry about in winter. If you are pinned down by a problem, seek expert help. At AVS Heating and Air Conditioning, we are committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of our customers. Whether you have a minor repair problem or a major issue, our experts got you covered. To consult our technician, call (703) 873-7484.