How can I tell if my heat pump thermostat is going out? If your thermostat isn't working properly, you will notice a variance in temperature. You suspect your thermostat has gone out in your heat pump, but...
You suspect your thermostat has gone out in your heat pump, but you're not quite sure. You've done some research, but you're not quite familiar with how the system operates. Our heat pump expert, Pete Peterson, owner of Geothermal Supply Company, with more than 35 years experience in the heat pump industry, says there are some tell tale signs when it comes to thermostat problems.
"You wouldn't know whether it was the thermostat or not, but most of the time if the thermostat goes out, one or two things happen: One will be the system does not run at all, but that could be a number of things. It could also be the thermostat, but the first thing that you would probably notice if a thermostat was malfunctioning would be a variance in temperature. You might have a wider swinging of temperatures than you normally would," Peterson says.
Most heating system problems are caused by thermostat issues, a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse, or a pilot light that has gone out.
Peterson says make sure the thermostat is set to "Heat" (if yours is a heating and cooling system). If it isn't, turn it to "Heat." Be sure the furnace's circuit breaker is on or that its fuse has not blown. Check both the main electrical panel and any secondary sub-panels that supply power to the unit. If the circuit has blown or tripped, reset the circuit breaker or replace the fuse. If the circuit blows again, there is a probably a short in the electrical system providing power to the furnace. Call an electrical contractor.
Be sure the heat pump's power switch is turned on; it is usually located next to or inside the furnace cabinet. If it isn't on, turn it on and wait a few minutes for the air handler to engage.
The motor may need to be reset because of an overload. Look for a RESET button near the blower motor's housing and, if you find one, press it. If nothing happens, wait about 30 minutes for the motor to cool, then try the RESET button again.
Turn off the power to the heat pump at the main electrical panel or sub-panel. Look for a fuse in the power switch. If there is one there, it may have blown. Replace the fuse (be sure to follow instructions in your owner's manual). If you don't have an owner's manual or are not clear about what it will take to do this, call a heating repair technician.
Check the heat pump's ignition, according to the owner's manual. If it still doesn't work, be sure the thermostat isn't faulty. If none of this works, call a heating contractor or heat pump repair technician.
If your heat pump runs and provides some heat but not enough, be sure nothing is blocking the flow of warm air. First, be sure the thermostat is set properly. Try raising the set temperature five degrees and waiting a few minutes. Be sure the room heating registers are open. Check the heat pump filter. If it's dirty, change it. Peterson says if these simple steps don't work, have a heat pump repair technician check out your system; either the blower isn't working properly or the system is out of balance.
