Having a working heat pump is essential to keeping your home warm all winter. If the heat pump cycling process is continuous, however, it can cause unnecessary wear-and-tear, which wastes energy and ultimately can lead to an in-season system breakdown. The key to preventing this from happening is having a professional tune up your heating system before the winter arrives.
Possible causes of constant cycling
If you notice your heat pump cycle doesn’t end, you first want to identify what’s causing the malfunction. There can be several possible issues that lead to heat pump frequent cycling:
- Clogged filter
- Air leak
- Worn-out circuit
When your filter gets clogged, it usually results in low airflow. This can cause the heat pump to overheat because it’s working harder than it should have to work. Make changing the filter part of your regular maintenance tasks to avoid this problem.
The heat pump may continue to cycle constantly after you change the filter. This is an indication that there is another problem. An air leak may be causing the problem, and the fix may be as simple as tightening a bolt or two. Professional heating and air conditioning technicians are best equipped to make that assessment and perform the necessary repairs.
It’s also possible that a bad circuit is the culprit. This can cause the pump to burn out quickly, so it needs to be addressed in a timely manner.
Once you have identified what’s making your heat pump cycle continuously, it is important to address the problem as soon as possible. Delaying repair can have several unfortunate consequences.
Possible outcomes of constant cycling
You may think your system is fine as long as there is heat in the house during winter months. It’s easy to ignore an issue that isn’t causing a dire emergency that affects your family’s comfort. There are several reasons not to procrastinate when it comes to fixing a heat pump cycling issue, though.
One of the first signs that your HVAC system is working harder than it needs to work is a spike in your energy bill. The more it runs, the more power it has to use. Fixing the problem can save you money on your next statement.
Frequent cycling is hard on your heat pump. You may not be able to see the signs of premature wear and tear, but this is a common consequence of an overworked pump. Keeping up with a regular maintenance schedule and making prompt repairs when needed can prolong the life of your pump.
The biggest concern you may face with constant heat pump cycling is system shutdown. After a while, the wear and tear may become too much for the system to handle. At some point, an inefficient heat pump is going to break down the whole system, leaving you without heat until it’s fixed.
The longer you wait for necessary repairs, the more money you may end up spending in the long run. When the heat pump cycles so frequently it causes a system breakdown, technicians will probably find a lot more damaged parts than just the pump. The cost of this repair is likely to be much more than it would have cost to have your heat pump repaired when you first noticed the issue.