Author: Amanda Triolo

Are you having problems with your heat pump not heating?

As experts in heat pump diagnostics and repairs in Albany, New York, and the surrounding areas, Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical can always fix your HVAC system. Keep reading to discover the most common reasons your device isn’t producing quite enough heat for your liking and what you should do.

The Eight Most Common Causes of a Heat Pump Not Heating or Emitting Hot Air

Copper tubing makes heat pumps efficient, but there are many other parts that can go wrong. Whether your pump is blowing cool breezes in winter or simply failing to keep your home warm, a professional HVAC technician will diagnose the problem correctly.

Typically, heating devices suffer from one of the following eight issues.

1. Your Thermostat May Have Problems

An apparent issue with heat pump systems can come from a faulty thermostat. Do you have incorrect thermostat settings or other issues? Try the following:

• Check to confirm you set your thermostat to the heating mode or constant fan.
• Replace the batteries in your thermostat to see if that fixes the issue.
• Determine the age of your thermostat (get a new one if it’s more than 10 years old).
• Clean your device to see if it has a dirty sensor.
• Clear furniture and curtains away from your thermostat. Also, block sunlight that could cause your thermostat to misread a temperature setting by a few degrees.

If none of these work, you could have a technician double-check for a malfunctioning thermostat at the next service.

2. Your Unit May Have a Clogged Air Filter

If you have problems with your heat pump not heating, it could have a dirty air filter. Do you remember the last time you changed it? You should change the filter once a month.

If you replace your air filter and it doesn’t solve the issue, you likely have a more complicated problem than reduced airflow.

3. Your Heat Pump Could Have Deficient Refrigerant Levels

Like an air conditioner, your heat pump uses refrigerant to transfer heat to and from cold air or warm air. If your unit has low refrigerant levels, the heat pump can’t reach your desired temperature. Refrigerant issues usually result in lukewarm air.

Be careful; only a qualified professional should address leaking refrigerant. It’s a toxic substance that requires special training to handle safely.

4. Do You Have a Blocked Outdoor Unit?

Is your heat pump not heating? Check whether you have debris or vegetation blocking your outdoor unit.

Your heat pump has both an indoor unit and an outside unit. The portion outside your home remains the most vulnerable to blockages.

5. Consider Whether You Have Power Problems

If your heat pump isn’t working at all, you could have any number of electrical issues. Do you experience a blown fuse in your electrical panel or circuit breaker every time you flip a specific light switch? Also, check your indoor unit power switch to see if you flipped it off.

Is your heat pump running but not blowing the air through your home? The power problem may reside with your indoor air handler unit.

6. A Faulty Reversing Valve Could Cause the Issue

If your heat pump has a bad reversing valve, it may only emit cool or cold air. The reversing valve determines whether your heat pump cools or heats, as it directs the flow of refrigerant.

With a broken reversing valve, the heat pump may become stuck in cooling mode.

7. Your Heat Pump Has a Frozen Outdoor Unit Coil

Your heat pump can experience ice buildup and frozen coils during winter and summer. However, it has a greater vulnerability to a frozen outdoor coil in the winter because of the cold weather.

Freezing occurs most often because of low refrigerant. Dirt buildup on the coils or air filter or other debris blocking the unit can also cause problems (your device can’t properly regulate the temperature through evaporation).

8. You May Have an Undersized Heat Pump

You should carefully select the best-sized heat pump for your home. If you buy a device too small for your home, it won’t provide the level of heating you need.

If you feel the heat pump blowing hot air but your home never reaches a comfortable temperature, consider an upgrade.

Schedule Reliable Heat Pump Repairs Today

If you’re struggling with your heat pump not heating, contact Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical. We’ll determine why you feel cool air when you shouldn’t and offer a personalized and efficient solution.

Call 518-545-3271 to schedule an appointment today!

What causes a blinking red light on furnaces?

Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical can determine whether you have a problem with your heat exchanger, gas pressure, or something else. We’re New York’s trusted source of diagnostics and repairs for all furnace models in the Albany, NY area.

Here, we discuss the most common reasons behind your furnace’s blinking red light.

Most Common Reasons You See a Blinking Red Light On Furnaces

If a red furnace light blinks or flashes, you can assume one thing right off the bat: the furnace isn’t functioning properly! An HVAC system professional will read the error code specific to your unit’s problem, but one of the following issues is likely:

A Flashing Furnace Light Can Mean You Have Igniter Failure

A professional HVAC technician can determine if your furnace light flashes because your unit has ignition issues. In a gas furnace, this component ignites your fuel so that your device can heat the air. Ignition problems can occur for several reasons, such as:

• A dirty flame sensor
• A dirty burner chamber or combustion chambers
• A faulty gas valve
• A vent blockage
• Reduced airflow from clogged furnace filters or a faulty blower motor
• Lack of a hot flame or pilot light (it looks like a yellow light)
• Flame failure from broken burners

Learn more about what heat exchangers are and how they work

A Blinking Light Can Indicate a Roll-Out Switch (High Limit Switch) Problem

Do you sometimes see a blinking red light on furnaces? Your roll-out switch provides an essential safety feature by shutting off your device when it overheats. If the high-limit switch doesn’t accurately read the internal temperature, it may shut down your device and activate the error code light.

This occurs most often when you have clogged air filters and dirt buildup.

You Could Experience a Heating System Lock Out

A lock-out is another safety feature in modern furnaces.

Your furnace has several sensors that monitor conditions within your furnace. If they sense an issue, they shut down your device. You’ll see a blinking red light.

Do You Have Thermostat Issues?

One issue homeowners often overlook in the furnace manual includes that a furnace’s blinking red light can occur when your thermostat malfunctions.

Can your thermostat not properly communicate with your heating system? It may activate your furnace’s blinking red light to show the right error code.

Related article: How high can I turn up my thermostat?

You May Have Heat Exchanger or Power Issues

You may see an error code if your furnace components aren’t receiving power correctly. Several issues can cause power problems, such as:

• Circuit board failure
• Issues with your circuit breaker box
• Loose wire connections
• Old wiring
• Frequent power surges

Do You Have Problems with Your Gas Valve?

A gas valve issue remains the most common cause of a blinking red light on furnaces. This occurs most often when the gas flowing into your furnace doesn’t have enough pressure to ignite.

Only a professional HVAC technician should handle issues with your gas supply.

Is Your Pressure Switch Malfunctioning?

Your furnace’s pressure switch shuts off power to your device when it detects unsafe pressure levels. If you have pressure switch problems, it could misread the pressure and turn off the furnace unnecessarily.

An HVAC professional can help determine if you have a malfunction or if you have increased pressure from the following complications:

• Blocked condensate drain
• Dirty air filters
• Improperly sized equipment

What Should You Do If Your Furnace Has a Blinking Red Light?

So, what should you do when you notice a blinking light on your furnace? You can perform basic diagnostics yourself to help determine the issue. Safely complete the following tasks:

• Check your recent utility bills. Do you have a decrease in your device’s energy efficiency?
• Inspect your device for clogged filters. Change them if necessary.
• Reset your thermostat. Try an extreme temperature. Does your furnace activate?
• Stay vigilant for unusual smells and sounds. The furnace may need repairs.

By performing initial troubleshooting, you can help your HVAC technician determine the source of your furnace problems.

Remember, if your furnace has problems during a period of extremely cold weather, you need it for safety. You should consider it an emergency and call for repairs immediately.

If you smell natural gas, exit your home immediately. Call for service from a safe distance.

Schedule Reliable Furnace Repairs Today

Now that you know how to handle a blinking red light on furnaces, contact Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical. Our experienced technicians can interpret the error codes on all furnace brands, including your Carrier furnace. We can efficiently return your furnace to normal operation for a competitive price.

To schedule service, call 518-545-3271.

Whether you look forward to the stark beauty of a snowy landscape or you’re already counting down the days until spring, preparing your heating system for winter is key. It doesn’t matter whether you love winter or hate it; you need your furnace to keep your home warm and comfortable.

Learn more about the key steps you should take to make sure your furnace is ready to perform in top condition.

Perform Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance involves taking several steps to keep your system running in top condition all winter long.

Replace the Furnace Filter

You should change your furnace’s air filter at least every three months and before the heating season starts. A clogged furnace doesn’t allow maximum heated air flow through the system.

Check the Vents

After replacing the air filter, one of the key steps for preparing your furnace or heat pump for winter is ensuring maximum air movement into and out of the HVAC system. Walk around your home and look at the vents. Move any items that are blocking either the supply or return air vents.

Clear the Space Around the Furnace

If you stacked boxes and other items around the furnace all summer, now is the time to move them to a new location. Storing items near the furnace while it’s running increases the risk of fire.

Clean the Interior of the Unit

The interior of the furnace and heat exchanger accumulate dust, dirt, and grime throughout the year. Removing these particles allows the moving parts inside the furnace to operate freely, ensuring maximum performance efficiency when preparing your heating system for winter.

The blower motor and other parts contain bearings that may need lubrication, too.

Test the Performance

Turn on the furnace or heat pump and make sure it delivers warm air as expected. If you hear odd noises or if the heater doesn’t seem to be responding to your settings on the thermostat, you should call our HVAC system repair team.

Reach Out for a Tune-up

Many of the maintenance steps required to prepare a furnace for winter are more complicated than homeowners can easily handle on their own. Our expert heating unit technicians can visit your home annually to do the necessary maintenance on the furnace.

Our certified furnace professionals can run diagnostic tests on your heater, looking for parts that are close to failing. We can do repairs on these parts, ensuring your furnace is ready to run in an energy-efficient and reliable manner all winter.

Our diagnostic tests can spot areas where wear is occurring, allowing us to fix them before they cause a complete breakdown.

Check the Safety Systems

Just before winter is a good time to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If they need fresh batteries, you should change them as part of preparing your heating system for winter.

If you use a chimney, have a professional inspect and clean it to reduce the risk of a fire.

Our heating technicians can check the integrity of the natural gas lines and electrical connections. We ensure everything is ready to operate safely for you all winter.

Take Advantage of the Thermostat’s Features

As a final option for preparing your heating system for winter, you should familiarize yourself with your thermostat. You might not understand all the features that your thermostat offers that can help you keep your home more comfortable and cut down on heating costs.

The changeover from cooling to heating season is a good time to learn more about the thermostat. Some of the features of your programmable thermostat that you may want to consider using include:

• Program the furnace to shut down overnight
• Measure heating performance in real-time
• Control the thermostat from an app
• Set up different heating zones in the home

If you have a newer thermostat and a smart home system installed, you can connect the thermostat to the system. This makes it easier to control from an app.

You should also check the thermostat’s settings related to the furnace. Make sure the furnace’s temperature is exactly where you want it.

Call Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical for a Furnace Tune-up Today

If you want to ensure your furnace is ready to deliver hot, not cold, air for the upcoming winter season, the expert heating and cooling system technicians at Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical are ready to help. By letting us tune up your heating equipment, you receive benefits like lower heating bills, a longer lifespan for your furnace, and better home comfort.

To learn more about preparing your heating system for winter and the tasks we will perform for you, call (518) 545-3271.

When cold winter weather is invading your region, you need your furnace to heat your home and deliver energy efficiency. If you are wondering why your furnace won’t turn off, it’s time to reach out to professional repair technicians for help with diagnosing the issue.

Learn more about why your heating system won’t stop running and how our heating technicians can solve this problem.

Common Reasons for a Constantly Running Furnace

Even though it might feel warm and toasty in the home when the furnace is running constantly during extremely cold weather, this signifies a significant problem with the unit. Several different reasons may explain the reason for a constantly running furnace. You can consider these troubleshooting steps to try to diagnose the problem when the furnace is constantly running.

Broken Thermostat

If your thermostat is not measuring temperature properly or is sending incorrect signals to the furnace, it might never shut down. 

Check the settings on the thermostat controls to make sure someone didn’t turn it to a high temperature setting. Use a separate thermometer to measure the actual temperature in the house and compare it to the desired temperature measurement on the thermostat settings.

Thermostats typically last about 10 years. If you have an older thermostat, it may be time for a replacement.

Clogged Air Filter

If you have a clogged air filter inside the gas furnace, it inhibits the ability of the system to move air. A lack of air movement causes the heating system to work harder, which could lead to parts inside the heating unit breaking down prematurely.

The dirty air filter may block the movement of heated air throughout the home, leading to cold spots in different rooms.

You should change a dirty filter every three months in the HVAC system at a minimum.

Wrong Size of Furnace

If you moved into a home with an existing furnace that will not shut off, it’s possible that the furnace is too small. It simply cannot move enough hot air throughout the square footage of the home to reach the thermostat’s temperature setting.

If you recently expanded your home’s size through remodeling, figuring out why your furnace won’t turn off might relate to the now larger home.

The only way to fix this issue is replacing the existing furnace with a larger capacity unit.

Furnace Blower Motor Issues

If the heat pump or furnace blower is not functioning properly, it may inhibit the furnace’s ability to circulate air through the system. The thermostat might not send a signal to the furnace to shut off because the warm air is not moving through the home properly.

A professional Clifton Park furnace repair company can investigate this problem and fix it.

Loss of Heat Outdoors

If you do not have the proper level of insulation inside the home, it’s possible that the furnace simply cannot keep up during extremely cold weather. The home is not holding the heat inside like it should because of the issue with insulation.

Perhaps someone left open windows or doors in the home, and cold air is entering the home at a fast rate. Walk through the home and check for broken windows and open doors.

Consequences When a Furnace Won’t Turn Off

Typically, a furnace will run up to 15 minutes per heating cycle before shutting down for a few minutes. It can then start the new heating cycle.

When the furnace doesn’t shut off, it’s still delivering heat to the home. You might choose to ignore this issue because the furnace is still running.

However, the furnace cannot continue to operate this way without suffering a failure at some point.

Some of the problems you might experience when the furnace will not shut down include:

• Higher energy bills
• Home that’s too warm
• Shorter furnace lifespan
• Potential fire hazard
• Increased risk of carbon monoxide exposure
• Furnace breakdown

All these problems show the importance of having repairs done as quickly as possible to the HVAC system when your furnace won’t turn off.

Let Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical Help You Understand Why Your Furnace Won’t Turn Off — and Fix It

Don’t continue to put up with a furnace that wants to run continuously. Let our experts diagnose why your furnace won’t turn off and do something about it. 

Our professional HVAC technicians at Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical are ready to help with all your heating system needs. We do not cut corners when repairing and maintaining your furnace. To set up an appointment or to learn how we can help you with your furnace problem, call us today at (518) 545-3271.