You should know the basics on troubleshooting your air conditioner/heat pump even if you regularly maintain your unit. Knowledge of troubleshooting saves time, money and further inconvenience. Follow these tips for the proper ways of troubleshooting your air conditioner/heat pump combo. First you need to familiarize yourself with the manual that came with your unit. Read through the maintenance and troubleshooting portion aside from the installation section, so that you know what proper things to do when you encounter problems. The maintenance section will give you ideas on how to take care of your air conditioner/heat pump. The troubleshooting portion will guide you through the step-by-step actions you need to perform when you encounter problems. Be alert to the noise your unit emits. You can hear a “shuh” sound after turning on your unit. You can hear a “pshh pshh” sound when your air conditioner/heat pump is still in operation or immediately after it shuts down.

A clicking sound is caused by plastic parts expanding or shrinking due to temperature change. Meanwhile, when you hear a noise like running water, keep in mind that this is caused by refrigerant liquid that is circulating in your air conditioner/heat pump. Addressing Cooling and Heating Problems If the temperature distribution is not working properly, the most common reason is that you started the air conditioning while it was very hot outside or the heat when it was very cold outside. When your unit experiences cooling or heating problems, program the right temperature once your unit is adjusted to the room temperature. If your room smells different after you turn on the heat or the air conditioning, check on your exhaust pipes and connection. The smell is most likely coming from old pipes or dirty exhaust. Check that the smell is not the result of humidity in the wall, carpets, furniture or other fabrics in the room. Remember that it is normal to see water running out of your air conditioner/heat pump combo.

When the unit cools air in the room, it produces water. Excess water is not normal for units that are only heating pumps. If your air conditioner/heat pump fails to run, make sure to check if you plugged the switch into the socket. Check that the fuse has not blown or the main breaker has not tripped. enclosure for air conditioner unitIf your unit still refuses to switch on, make sure that you use the correct programming function, meaning that you did not accidentally switch the remote off while trying to adjust the temperature.ac unit fence Calling about Service and Warrantyair conditioning fan on or auto You should contact your unit’s salesman and inquire about service options and warranty coverage if your problem still persists.

3 Differences Between Water Source and Geothermal Heat Pumps Updated Apr. 1, 2016 How to Buy a Heat Pump A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can both heat and cool a house. A simple explanation of how this works is that a heat pump can extract heat found in the air (or ground) outside your house and transfer that heat into your house instead. Under the right conditions it can do this substantially more cheaply than a gas or oil furnace. For more information on how a heat pump accomplishes this bit of wizardry, please see our article on how heat pumps work. A heat pump is not necessarily the best choice for every home. Before buying a heat pump, consider the following questions: Is a heat pump the best choice for your home -- or would you be better off buying a furnace and a central What size heat pump should you buy? What is heat pump efficiency, and how efficient should your heat pump be? Which brand of heat pump is best?

Which heat pumps do heating contractors recommend? Who should install your heat pump? Since a heat pump can both heat and cool a house, wouldn't you always rather buy a heat pump than a central air conditioner? wouldn't you rather have a single piece of equipment to purchase, install and maintain than both a central air conditioner and aIn some cases the answer may be this simple, but there are several factors to first consider that may affect your choice. The seasonal weather in your region is probably the most important factor in this decision. the temperature rarely dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you can probably heat your home more affordably with a heat pump than a furnace. However, if the temperature is often colder, you should consider having a backup heat source. Many people choose a gas or oil furnace to serve this purpose -- both for reasons of cost and because a furnace can more easily maintain warm temperatures when the difference between the temperature outside and inside increases.

Second, heat pumps are generally more expensive than a central air conditioner of the same efficiencyFor example, at one direct-to-consumer retailer, a 1.5 ton, 13 retails for about $100 more than the equivalent 1.5 ton, 13 SEER Rheem central air conditioner. Contractors may also charge more to install a heat pump than a central air conditioner. A third criteria to consider is longevity. Since a central air conditioner is typically only used during the summer months, while a heat pump is used during both summer AND winter, the lifespan of a heat pump is typically shorter than that of a central air conditioner. typically higher as well, since the heat pump's compressor, controls and other components will run more months out of the year. Finally, natural gas and oil have historically been more affordable than electricity. costs have skyrocketed in the past months, this may no longer be true in your area. ( Of course, this also variesSome HVAC professionals, for example, have pointed out that the many hydroelectric dams in the

Pacific Northwest of the United States often result in electricity costs lower than natural gas costs.) Since heat pumps almost often run on electricity, you'll want to consider whether a gas furnaceIt is important to research your region’s costs in making this decision. Choosing a heat pump that outputs the correct amount of warm and cold air ensures your home’s comfort, will keep your unit’s maintenance needs low and will help the unit perform at peak efficiency. Heat pumps should be sized to run continuously to maximize efficiency. heat pump that is too large for your house cycles on and off too often, which increases the wear on the equipment and decreases itsToo small, and the unit may not be able to keep you comfortable during both summer and winter. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to an accurate measurement: you need to get an to calculate your house's heating load. measure of a heating load is a Manual J calculation, and it takes into account your house's insulation, size, amount of shade, and many other factors.

The heating and cooling functions of a heat pump each have their own measure of efficiency. A heat pump's cooling efficiency is measured by its "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating," orIts heating efficiency is measured by its "Heating Seasonal Performance Factor," or HSPF. In warm climates where you'll want to generate cool air often and hot air rarely, you'll want to choose a heat pump with a high SEER. In cooler climates, you'll want to make sure that your heat pump has a high HSPF. Highly efficient heat pumps typically cost more upfront than less efficient models. You may want to consider how many months it will take to pay off this increased cost through savings in yourIf you are planning to leave your current house within a few years, you might prefer to install a lower efficiency heat pump, as you are unlikely to recoup the extra cost. Of course, money is not the only factor to consider -- you may be willing to pay more to

reduce your house's impact on the environment. Many companies manufacture heat pumps. Please browse the profiles of the following heat pump manufacturers to learn more about their product offerings and see how other homeowners rank their experiences What are the highest rated heat pumps? The Coleman LX ranks highest in our 2016 heat pump ratings. In addition to efficiency, size and cost, there are other selections to make in choosing a heatSingle- vs. two-stage compressor operation? Single or variable speed fan motor? these selections will impact your efficiency, and potentially the operating volume of your heat One of the most important choices you will make in buying a heat pump is which contractor A good contractor will correctly size your heat pump, help you calculate the payback period of high- and low-efficiency equipment, and ensure that the equipment is installedIn addition, they will respond promptly when you have an HVAC crisis, provide ongoing

maintenance, and act as a go-between with the manufacturer to replace failed parts underIn fact, selecting an unqualified contractor could mean that you end up with a heat pump that is too large, and therefore cycles on and off too often, or one that is too small and so ineffective in heating or cooling your house—and that’s assuming the electrical and plumbingMuch like choosing a lawyer or an accountant, you should approach the choice of an HVAC contractor carefully. Approach your selection of an HVAC contractor the same way you would hire an employee: interview several, get references, and decide slowly. Probably the best way to start is to call friends who live in your town, and ask them who they would recommend. (such as the typical HVAC company) live and die by word-of-mouth referral -- if a contractor knows that one of their current clients referred them to you, they will work harder to make you happy. If you can't find enough

contractors through word-of-mouth, consider working with a company that maintains a network happily recommends hiring contractors HomeAdvisor provides a free, no-obligation service to match people with pre-screened contractors. After the contractor completes a job, HomeAdvisor emails the customer to request feedback on the contractor. They then use that feedback to select which contractors to refer for future jobs. Make sure to ask to see your contractor's license and proof of insurance. Ask if they will perform a load calculation to determine how large of a heat pump to install. If they suggest that they have a shortcut for determining the correct heat pump size, keep check with the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has filed a complaint aboutAsk for references from three previous customers -- and then call to follow-up with thoseYou’ll learn more from talking to a past customer about questions they wish they had asked than from simply