Why Does My Heat Pump Shut Off Prematurely?

A heat pump is a heating and cooling alternative to furnaces and air conditioners, providing energy-efficient coverage for your home, whether you’re in the depths of winter or dog days of summer. Although heat pumps tend to be efficient, they can suffer from malfunctions just like any other home climate system. If your heat pump is turning on and off, or if it turns off after 30 seconds of operation, there could be several reasons for this.

We have created a comprehensive outline to discuss the possible reasons why your heat pump is turning on and off—some issues can be easy fixes, and some may require inspection from an expert HVAC technician.

Top Reasons Your Heat Pump is Turning On and Off

If your heat pump is pushing out hot or cold air at the wrong times, or if it turns on and off constantly, there are some common explanations for this. Sometimes, the problem comes down to poor system specifications, such as your heat pump being too small to properly heat your home.

Other times, the issue is with the heat pump’s hardware or connections to other technology, like the thermostat. The following are some principal reasons why your heat pump is short-cycling or shutting off entirely.

Inaccurate Thermostat Readings

When your thermostat and heat pump are improperly synced, this can lead the heat pump to turn on and shut off based on inaccurate readings. To fix this, you can adjust your thermostat’s heat anticipator, which is usually at the center of older mechanical thermostats. If you aren’t too familiar with your thermostat and heat pump, an HVAC technician can certainly make the fix and show you what to do for future incidents.

System is Not Sized Correctly

While homeowners can adjust a heat anticipator on their own, dealing with an improperly sized heat pump should be left to an experienced HVAC contractor. If your heat pump is the wrong size for your home, it can’t sufficiently heat or cool it.

To prevent this problem from occurring, be sure to have a technician perform a heat load calculation before conducting a heat pump installation. If the system is installed without a calculation and turns out to be the wrong size, rectifying the problem can be rather expensive.

Dirty Air Filter

Also a common issue with furnaces and air conditioners, a dirty air filter can seriously impair your heat pump’s heating and cooling capabilities. When air filters aren’t cleaned or replaced regularly, they accumulate dirt, dust, and other particles.

Not only will a dirty air filter cause your heat pump to shut on and off randomly, but it will also cause it to overheat. An overheating heat pump can take on expensive long-term damage, so be sure to change your air filter each month if you use it on a daily basis. If you aren’t using your heat pump as much, changing the air filter every other month should be satisfactory.

Read More: Top Reasons Your Furnace is Making Clicking Sounds

Refrigerant Leak

In cold weather, the refrigerant absorbs heat from outside, then pressurizes it and releases conditioned air indoors. Although if your refrigerant is leaking, your heat pump may turn off and struggle to properly heat your house. Excess ice on the outdoor segment of the heat pump can lead to leaking refrigerant. If a leak is suspected, an HVAC technician should be contacted as soon as possible.

Other Types of Heat Pump Issues

What if your heat pump’s dysfunction can’t be explained by the issues listed above? Well, those aren’t the only possibilities. Other issues associated with your heat pump shutting off after 30 seconds or less of operation include how your system is maintained.

No matter the issue, an experienced HVAC technician will be able to assess and fix it, so if you notice any of the following problems, contact our experienced professionals at Randazzo today:

Heat Pump Running Constantly

If your heat pump won’t stop running, you’re likely receiving high electricity bills. Here are some potential reasons behind the problem:

• Dirty air filter
• Dirty coils, which improperly transfer heat
• Refrigerant leak
• System is not sized correctly
• Thermostat set too high or low

System is Not Running

If your heat pump won’t turn on, here are some possible explanations:

• System power loss or broken fuse
• Obstructed air ducts in some heat pump models
• Dirty air filter
• Broken starter capacitor
• Thermostat is disconnected/powered off

Ice in Outdoor System

Winter weather can layer your heat pump’s outdoor unit with ice, and if left too long, this ice can damage your unit long-term. The following conditions may be a sign of excess ice in your outdoor system:

• Outdoor fan problems
• Low refrigerant
• Unit will not defrost
• Filter is clogged

Malfunctioning Indoor Air Handler

The indoor air handler works with your heat pump’s outdoor unit to spread air throughout your home, so be sure to look out for the following issues, which may be sourced from a faulty indoor air handler:

• Tripped circuit breaker
• Broken blower motor
• Disconnected or loose wiring

Heat Pump is Not Heating

If your heat pump simply isn’t living up to its name, these may be some potential reasons:

• Thermostat needs to be recalibrated
• Dirty or clogged air filters
• Thermostat is turned off or running on the wrong settings
• Leaking from air ducts

System is Not Cooling

If it’s scorching hot outside, but your heat pump is not working properly, look out for these potential explanations:

• Incorrect thermostat settings
• Low or leaking refrigerant
• Outdoor unit cannot expel hot air because of an obstacle
• Dirty or clogged air filters
• Heat pump is incorrectly sized
• Dirty/icy coils

How Does a Heat Pump Operate?

Now that we’ve discussed the potential malfunctions a heat pump can experience, how does the system actually work?

Heat pumps work in a cycle, transferring heat from outside to inside and vice versa by circulating refrigerant between two heat-exchanging coils. Refrigerant is evaporated in one coil and then compressed while traveling to the other coil, where it condenses and is released from the system as heat.

This cycle is reversible, allowing for cooling on hot days and heating on cold days. Even during the most frigid winter days, a heat pump can capture heat from outside, as the air and ground still contain plenty of usable heat.

Heat Pump Repair and Replacement Services in Southeast Michigan

If your heat pump is experiencing any of the issues listed in this article, or if you want to schedule yearly maintenance for your system, the experts at Randazzo are standing by and ready to help. We provide reputable heat pump repair and heat pump installation services for homeowners throughout the spring, summer, fall, and winter months.

Our technicians provide the most trusted heating repair services in Detroit, Michigan, and there is a reason for that: we only employ thoroughly background-checked technicians and guarantee that our staff sets a high standard in the HVAC industry.

We understand the importance of a functional heat pump, which is why we provide one-day installs, instant rebates, and flexible financing options. Rain or shine, hot or cold, you deserve a comfortable home and a great repair experience. Call our friendly team at 586-336-1111 and schedule your heat pump repair consultation today.