Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Heat Pumps’ Category

5 Heatwave Tips

Monday, August 28th, 2023
overheated-family-sitting-in-front-of-fans

We hope you had your regular maintenance done on your heat pump or air conditioner before summer started. It’s the best way to decrease wear and tear, helping with efficiency, cooling performance, and keeping your system running for as long as possible while requiring few repairs. But the fact is, it’s been a while since that maintenance took place, and it’s still very hot outside. What can you do to help your air conditioner or heat pump cope with a heatwave in late summer? Here are five tips that can make a big difference.

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What to Expect During Heat Pump Repairs

Monday, May 22nd, 2023
tools-laid-out-for-performing-repairs

If you have a heat pump rather than a traditional central AC unit and heater, you’ve probably been quite happy with it. However, nothing works perfectly all the time, and chances are, at some point during the life of your heat pump, repairs will be required. If this is your first time with a heat pump, you might wonder what to expect when a technician arrives to make repairs. Here are some things to keep in mind.

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Why Your Heat Pump Smells Wrong

Monday, February 28th, 2022

How to Prevent Ductwork Contamination in Your Fresno HomeHave you ever thought to yourself, “I wonder what my heat pump smells like?” The answer is probably not! This is because your heat pump really isn’t supposed to produce any kind of smell, to begin with! A little bit of whooshing noise, yes, but no smells.

So now you may be curious as to why you can smell something off when you run your heat pump. Did something get into your vents? It could have. There is more than one issue that can create a smelly heat pump problem. Thankfully we know how to identify the problem and fix it for you.

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Should Ice Appear on My Heat Pump in the Winter?

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015

Heat pumps are increasing in popularity as ways to provide effective heating and cooling throughout the year. Where heat pumps once struggled with energy efficiency during cold weather, newer models have overcome this problem: you can expect your heat pump to keep your home warm all the way to the spring.

However, you might notice a somewhat disconcerting effect occurring to the outside of your heat pump during the colder days of the season: ice forming along the cabinet and the outdoor refrigerant coil. This doesn’t look right… is it a cause for concern that will require professionals to fix?

Most of the time, ice on a heat pump is not an issue

At times when the temperature is 40°F or below and relative humidity is high, ice forming along the outdoor coils is normal. The reason is that the coil is absorbing heat from the air, and drawing moisture with it. This moisture will freeze along the coil in the low outdoor temperature.

Although a layer of ice will restrict the coil’s heat absorption abilities, the heat pump is designed with this in mind. Periodically, defrost controls activate that reverse the operation of the heat pump so that the coil releases heat and melts off the ice.

Call for assistance if the ice doesn’t melt off

If you notice that the ice on your heat pump isn’t melting away after two hours or so, there may indeed be an issue with its operation. The most likely cause is that the defrost controls have malfunctioned. Another possibility is a broken reversing valve, which is the component responsible for switching the heat pump between heating and cooling mode and thus what allows the coil to start to exhaust heat that will defrost the ice.

The problem could also be a loss of refrigerant through a leak, which makes it hard for the coil to release heat. This is a major trouble for the whole heat pump, as it can lead to permanent damage to the compressor. Call for technicians right away to see what’s wrong and repair it.

Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning can provide repairs for your heat pump in Clovis, CA. We have 24/7 emergency service available, and we offer the fastest turnaround you can find!

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As the Seasons Change, It’s a Good Time to Maintain Your Heat Pump

Tuesday, October 7th, 2014

As the Seasons Change, It's a Good Time to Maintain Your Heat PumpWith the arrival of cooler weather just around the corner, it’s time to make sure your heat pump is ready for the coming season. Checking its operation before cold weather starts is much more advisable than waiting until you see the frost on the grass. If you do have any problems with your heat pump this winter, it probably will be difficult to secure the services of a good HVAC technician to troubleshoot it, since that is a traditionally busy time for them.

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Proper Heat Pump Installation Means You’ll Get the Most Out of Yours

Thursday, June 27th, 2013

Proper Heat Pump Installation Means You'll Get the Most Out of YoursInstalling a new heat pump in your Fresno area home is a major investment that will dictate the quality of comfort and amount of energy consumption for many years. Use this guide for heat pump installation to get the most out of your investment.

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Confused About Heat Pump Maintenance? What’s DIY and What’s Left to the Pros

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

Confused About Heat Pump Maintenance? What's DIY and What's Left to the ProsOther than the simplest tasks, heat pump maintenance should generally be left to the pros. Lack of expertise and training on the part of homeowners means it can be dangerous to attempt to maintain the system, not to mention that improperly done maintenance may lead to future malfunctions and increased energy costs, too. Attempting to perform anything but the simplest heat pump maintenance yourself also may void any warranties the system has, or agreements with your HVAC contractor. Qualified HVAC technicians, on the other hand, undergo extensive training to care for heat pumps. Here are the straight facts about what homeowners can do to maintain their heat pumps, and what tasks should be leave to the professionals.

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Do You See Ice On Your Heat Pump’s Coils? Here’s What To Do

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

If you notice ice on your heat pump’s coils, it’s cause for concern. In most cases, homeowners require expert help when coils develop an unusual amount of frost or ice. However, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem before you call in the pros.

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Air-Source Heat Pump Performance Depends On The Proper Balance Point

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Air-Source Heat Pump Performance Depends On The Proper Balance PointFresno area homeowners enjoy relatively moderate winter temperatures, which, for many, makes high heating bills quite confounding. If you’re baffled by high heating bills, remember that air-source heat pump performance depends on an optimal balance point. Lower the heat pump’s balance point, and you’ll lower your heating bills.

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Heat Pump Troubleshooting: Simple Fixes You Can Try Yourself

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

While heat pumps are usually very reliable heating and cooling systems, like any other mechanical device, they do have the potential to break down, and often at the most inconvenient times. While most of the things that can go wrong with a heat pump require the assistance of a reliable HVAC technician, it’s usually a good idea to first kick the tires yourself, with some basic heat pump troubleshooting.

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