5 Signs That It’s Time To Replace Your Heat Pump
Whether you’re waking up or coming home from work, switching on your heat pump and relaxing on the couch just isn’t the same if your unit is struggling to keep you comfortable. With temperatures also becoming more extreme, it’s more important than ever that your heat pump is running smoothly.
Having a heat pump that isn’t running smoothly can lead to inefficiencies, poor performance and higher running costs. It also has the potential to cause you massive headaches if the unit happens to fail during extreme weather so it’s important to recognise when your system might be struggling and sort it out quickly.
As they always say “prevention is better than a cure” so we’ve listed some tell tale signs that your heat pump might need replacing.
heating or cooling Just Isn’t the Same
If you’re noticing a difference in consistency, specifically around the temperature of the air the system is producing it’s likely time to investigate further.
If your unit is producing cool air when in heating mode or vice versa, yet the unit isn’t providing any indication there is a fault (via flashing lights on the indoor unit) – there could be a more serious issue. It could be due to low refrigerant or worse, a damaged compressor. In either case, if your unit is on the older side and outside of warranty, it’s best to replace rather than fix.
Irregular air flow
If your heat pump has diminished airflow or the the airflow varies during use intensities, it could be one of many things; a faulty compressor or fan, dirty filters, blocked air-ducts or worse. You can check out our handy guide on how to clean your heat pump’s filters here. However, if you’re cleaned the filters and had the air-ducts checked yet the issue remains, it’s highly possible that your unit is on the way out and best course of action is to have someone assess and replace it if required.
Excessive moisture or leaks
Whether you have a split system or a ducted system, a small amount of condensation dripping from the outdoor unit is completely normal however if you notice that the leak is excessive or the leak is occurring when the unit is off then something could be wrong. A leaking outdoor unit can be a serious issue if the refrigerant is seeping out or if there is a blocked drainage tube. Electrical components and water are not a good combination, so be mindful of children and pets and ensure that the unit is turned off until you get a technician to look at it.
Strange noises and smells
An efficient, modern heat pump is designed operate as silently as possible. If you begin to hear odd, abrupt noises that may have not been present before – this could indicate something more serious and it’s time to get a professional to have a look to determine if it needs to be replaced.
Another sign of a faulty heat pump is odour. If the air coming from your unit smells musty or burnt, this could suggest an internal malfunction. It could be a burned wire, dusty air filters or potentially mould growth within the unit or the ducts. You can find our helpful guide on how to clean your filters here but if you’ve done this and issue remains, we’d strongly suggest getting it checked out by a professional who can determine if it’s repairable or if it’s best to replace it.
Drastically increased running costs
When fully functional heat pumps, specifically split systems, offer an energy efficient solution to heating and cooling your home and can greatly reduce your energy bills in the long run. If you’ve noticed an increase in your electricity bills but don’t believe you’ve increased usage, it could be a sign that your heat pump is running with reduced efficiency and we’d suggest getting a professional to come and assess it.
As technology has advanced it’s allowed modern split systems, including our Avanti PLUS® series which boasts industry leading energy ratings, to deliver much higher energy efficiencies and reduced running costs. This means that replacing an older unit with a new one will likely save you on running costs in the long run.
Recognise any of these signs? It’s time to act.
If you notice any of the above issues with your current heat pump, we highly suggest acting now. No-one wants to deal with their heat pump failing in the middle of winter so it’s always it’s best to get a professional come and assess and, if required, replace it prior to winter.
If you’d like to speak to an installer about replacing or upgrading your heat pump simply leave some details in the form below and we’ll get an authorised installer to get in touch!