Heat pumps work similarly to air conditioning systems, and they encounter many of the same types of malfunctions. A common issue is having a short-cycling heat pump. Short-cycling is both a problem on its own and a sign of a deeper problem with the heat pump.
Sometimes you can find a simple solution to a short-cycling heat pump with troubleshooting steps. Other times, you’ll need to call our professionals for heat pump repair in Eugene, OR.
We’ll look closer at heat pump short-cycling: why it’s a problem and what might cause it.
Short-Cycling Heat Pump
When a heat pump or other refrigerant-based system like an air conditioner enters into a refrigerant cycle, it will stay in that cycle for 15 minutes or more before cycling down. When your heat pump starts a heating or cooling cycle, you can expect to hear it run for that period of time.
Short-cycling is when a heat pump starts to rapidly cycle, turning on for only a short time (less than 10 minutes), cycling off, and then starting the cycle again a short time later. Normally, you can expect a heat pump to go through three cycles an hour when the home needs cooled or heated air. A short-cycling heat pump might go through eight cycles in an hour. Make sure you pay attention when this happens.
Why Short-Cycling Is a Problem
A heat pump uses the most amount of electricity when it starts up a cycle. It requires extra power to start-up the compressor. If a heat pump begins to turn on twice as often, it will put a tremendous drain on power and drive up electrical bills. The extra stress will wear down components faster, leading to more frequent repair needs and an early replacement.
Short-cycling also prevents a heat pump from running in either heating or cooling mode long enough to create an even spread of comfort around a home.
Several Causes of Short-Cycling
Short-cycling on its own is bad enough, but the cause of the problem is sometimes worse. Here are a few of the more common heat pump troubles that can lead to short-cycling:
- Clogged air filter: This is an easy one to correct for a homeowner. When you first notice short-cycling, check to see if the air filter is dirty and replace it with a new one.
- Refrigerant loss: Leaking refrigerant puts the entire heat pump in jeopardy of burning out. You’ll need professionals to link the leaks, seal them, and recharge the lost refrigerant.
- Oversized heat pump: If this is a new heat pump, the problem might be that whoever installed it failed to accurately size it. When a heat pump is too powerful for a space, it will continually cut short its cycles because it will heat or cool the house too fast.
- Thermostat malfunction: A range of problems with the thermostat can result in it turning the heat pump on and off too rapidly.
- Aging heat pump: Short-cycling in a heat pump that’s around or older than 15 years often indicates the unit is too worn-down to keep.
Reach out to us and we’ll diagnose your heat pump issue and find the best solution.