Keeping your heat pump cooling properly in those hot summer months is a must to maintain a comfortable home. When your heat pump won't cool, you want to get it up and running again as quickly as possible. Try these simple troubleshooting techniques to get your heat pump back to work. If your heat pump worked fine when it was chilly but is failing you now that warmer days have arrived, the first thing to check is that the thermostat is turned to cooling and set on automatic. The switches are generally located on the side or bottom of the unit; this is the simplest possible solution. If this doesn't solve the problem, try turning the machine to “fan only”, to make sure that your fan is running properly. Be sure to keep the thermostat at a temperature setting that is comfortable for you; if the setting isn't low enough, the heat pump won't kick on. Your filters have to be clean in order for your heat pump to work properly. You should change them monthly during heavy use seasons.

If either the filters are clogged or there is debris around your compressor, that could explain the cooling problem. Use a low pressure hose to wash out the outdoor compressor. Often this is all it takes to fix a cooling problem Sometimes the energy efficiency settings on the heat pump will prevent the defroster from working long enough or often enough to keep your heat pump defrosted. Try running the “fan only” setting for an hour or so to defrost the heat pump. window ac units for garageIf this is a recurring problem, consider moving the outdoor sensor to a more ideal location, closer to the coil's outtake.window ac unit schematic Check your fuse or breaker box to make sure that the heat pump is receiving power. stand up portable ac units

If the heat pump starts and stops, or continuously flips the breaker, you may have either a problem with your heat pump's compressor, or a problem with your home's electrical wiring. At this point, it is advisable to have an electrician come out and take a look at the problem. Electronic thermostats often need frequent battery changes. Try changing the batteries on your thermostat to see if it improves the functionality of your heat pump. Low refrigerant levels can limit the functionality of your heat pump, or even cause it to fail. Adding refrigerant requires a special license, because handling the materials is extremely hazardous for those without specific experience and training in proper handling and retrieval techniques. The EPA also has specific guidelines for the disposal of refrigerant, which is harmful to both humans and wildlife. At this point on the list, it's time to call in a professional. I have a Carrier heat pump/air handler system (looks pretty old) with a honeywell T-stat (looks pretty new) and I am not getting cool air.

Heat worked all winter, but I have used it in at least a month. The fan (inside unit, air handler) seems to work fine. The outside unit (compressor and fan) do not come on. I just replaced the filter and the T-stat batteries, and I tried resetting the breakers for the air handler/outdoor unit. I opened the outdoor unit, and it comes alive when I push the contactor in. If I hold it in for ~10 seconds it will click and stay on after I let go. It sounds like both the compressor and fan are running at this point, but I still get no cooling. Sadly I don't own a multimeter yet. Is there anything else I can check myself, or is it time to call for service? If both your central air handling fan and outdoor compressor are running and your not seeing any sort of cooling after a 10-20 minutes than I'd venture a guess and say it's time to call an AC repair service. I'm curious what you are pushing in that makes the compressor turn on? Are you somehow bridging the main capacitor? Capacitors tend to be a common point of failure on AC units and can actually be changed fairly easily.

Here is a pretty good article detailing the steps to do so. To be honest though I'd guess that the bigger problem is the fact that you can get it running and it still isn't putting out cold air. The whole situation sounds like it's low on coolant (have you had it filled in the last few years?). AC's usually have a low coolant pressure switch that will keep the unit from running to prevent damage to the compressor when there isn't enough pressure. Call an AC service out, many will diagnose your problem free of charge and be able to give you a much better idea of your problem. Be warned though, if your system is old and uses R-22 prices have shot up in the last year.Browse other questions tagged hvac air-conditioning heat-pump or ask your own question.A heat pump not only heats your home during the winter, it also cools it during the summer. It does not burn fuel to produce heat nor does the electricity it consumes go through an element. The heat pump functions on the same principle as refrigerators and air conditioners: A liquid absorbs heat as it turns into a gas and releases heat as it returns to a liquid state.

During the summer, the heat pump operates as a standard central air conditioner: It removes heat from the house and vents it to the outside. A liquid refrigerant is pumped through an evaporator coil of tubing. The liquid expands as it moves through the coil, changing to its gaseous state as it absorbs heat from the air surrounding the coil. A blower then pushes air around the cooled coil through ducts and into the house. The gas, now carrying considerable heat, moves through a compressor and begins the liquefying process. It then moves to a condensor coil outside the house, where the compressed gas releases its heat and returns to a liquid state. During the winter, the heat pump reverses this process, extracting heat from the cold air outside and releasing it inside the house. The heat pump is very efficient when the outside temperature is around 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but it becomes less efficient as the temperature drops. When the outside air temperature is very low, an auxilery electric heater must be used to supplement the heat pump's output.