What we did
A heat pump that was not working properly brought us out to a home in Stanford this January. Winter is when a heat pump is under the most pressure to perform, so we started with a thorough diagnosis to find out what was going on.
Our readings showed the suction pressure was below where it should be. We cleaned the evaporator coil and topped off the system with refrigerant, then checked again to confirm the heat pump was achieving proper pressure readings and operating effectively. A dirty coil and a low charge can both hold a heat pump back, so addressing them together gave the system a better chance to run the way it was designed.
We also programmed the heat strips to activate after a designated run time. Heat strips provide backup heat, but they use more electricity than the heat pump itself. Setting them to come on only after the heat pump has had time to work helps improve efficiency, which matters to homeowners watching their utility bills. In a Kentucky winter, with cold mornings and milder afternoons, that kind of setup lets the heat pump carry most of the load while the strips are there when they are needed.
