Making allowance for the extreme cold that wintertime brings to Chicago, IL, your heat pump should run in cycles of 10 to 15 minutes. If it runs for much longer than that, then something may be wrong with it. A heat pump that doesn’t stop running may have a clogged filter, be leaking refrigerant, have a coil issue or be too small for the home.
A Dirty Air Filter
Homeowners should replace the air filter in their return vent every three months on average; it’s one of the few maintenance tasks that they’re meant to do on their own. If you don’t replace yours, the dirt and debris on it will start to obstruct and lessen the flow of air, leading to longer run times.
Refrigerant Leak
The piping connecting the air handler and compressor carries refrigerant, the chemical responsible for transferring heat into your home. Over time, this piping corrodes and can spring a leak. The result will be a lack of warm air and, with it, a long cycle.
Coil Issues
Your heat pump has two coils: the evaporator coil in the air handler and the condenser coil in the compressor. Both can get caked with dirt and grime or wear out. In either case, you won’t get the warm air you want, and the heat pump will run on and on in a fruitless attempt to reach your set point.
An Undersized Heat Pump
Heat pumps have a blowing capacity that fits them for homes of a certain size. Perhaps yours can’t heat your home. Only a complete system replacement would solve this.
To get the appropriate heat pump repair here in Chicago, contact Besco Air Inc. Heating & Cooling. Though we’re a Trane Comfort Specialist and a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor, our NATE-certified technicians can work on any make or model of ducted or ductless heat pump.
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