Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Heat Pumps’ Category

Is Your Heat Pump Leaking Refrigerant?

Monday, December 16th, 2019
insulated-refrigerant-line

There’s a question many homeowners ask us that’s born from a common refrigerant myth—that question is, “how often does it need to be refilled?”

But the answer to this is actually, “hopefully, never!”

This is the myth. The refrigerant that flows through your heat pump system shouldn’t need to be refilled on a routine basis. This is because it’s not something that depletes over time like gasoline does from a car or oil does from an oil-powered appliance in your home. Refrigerant, alternatively, cycles through your heat pump continuously, transferring heat rather than generating it like other types of heating systems do.

So if you’re losing refrigerant, it means you have a leak.

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Help! My Heat Pump Won’t Switch to Heating Mode

Monday, November 21st, 2016

We are at the time of year that if you haven’t already, it’s certainly just about time to switch your heat pump from cooling to heating. But what if your heat pump won’t switch? There are a few reasons this may occur. There’s no need to panic: the problem may be very minor or it may even be unrelated to the heat pump itself. Our technicians can handle any heat pump repair needs that come our way! In the meantime, here are a few possible reasons your heat pump won’t switch modes.

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Is Your Heat Pump Ready for Summer?

Monday, April 25th, 2016

Spring is upon us, and while we are still experiencing cooler temperatures for now, summer heat will be here soon enough. When that happens, you’ll want to make sure that your heat pump is ready to provide you with proper cooling. If you haven’t had your heat pump inspected yet this season, now is the time to do so. Spring is the best time to prep your system, as it gets the system ready for its heaviest period of use, and HVAC technicians are more readily available during this time of year.

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Why Your Ductless System Needs Bi-Annual Maintenance

Monday, March 28th, 2016

The weather is starting to heat up, and if you have a ductless system you’re probably going to start using it again pretty soon. Before you start relying on your ductless system to keep you cool on a daily basis, though, you should be sure to schedule maintenance for it. Yes, even if you scheduled professional maintenance for it just a few months ago. Read on to find out more about why you need bi-annual ductless maintenance.

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Why You Should Install a Heat Pump This Winter

Monday, February 15th, 2016

There are a wide range of different home heating systems available on the market today. With the overwhelming number of different choices you have, you may be tempted to just go the safe route and install a new heating system of the same type as your old one. Before you do that, though, you should check out what some of the other heating systems have to offer. Let’s take a look at heat pumps, and the unique advantages they can offer you this winter.

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Have You Scheduled Ductless Maintenance Yet?

Monday, February 8th, 2016

Ductless systems need maintenance just as much as any other system. Twice as often, in fact, but we’ll get to that in a second. If you haven’t scheduled maintenance for your ductless system yet, you should do so now. Otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with a whole slew of problems that could have been avoided. Let’s take a look at why it’s so beneficial to schedule ductless maintenance.

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When to Replace Your Heat Pump

Monday, January 18th, 2016

Heat pumps have lifespans comparable to air conditioners and furnaces. If you take good care of yours, you can probably get it to last a couple of decades easily. Eventually, though, you’re going to need a new one. It’s a good idea to be able to tell when your current heat pump is approaching the end of its life; you’re going to want to replace it before it breaks down completely. Otherwise, you may find yourself without a heating system in the middle of winter. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that you need a new heat pump.

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The Benefits of Geothermal Heating

Monday, January 11th, 2016

Though winter is already here, some of us are still looking around for a new or replacement heating system. You’re probably impatient to find a heating system, so you can get it installed and working before things get much colder. That’s understandable, but don’t discount better options in your rush to get your home heated. If you haven’t already considered installing a geothermal system in your home this winter, you should. Let’s take a closer look at what geothermal heating systems are, and the advantages they provide.

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When Heat Pump Ice Is a Problem

Monday, December 14th, 2015

If you’re using a heat pump to keep your home warm this winter, you may notice ice building up on the outside coil of your system. If you do, don’t be alarmed. Heat pump ice is to be expected during especially cold days, and is not automatically a problem. However, it may become an issue if other parts of your heat pump stop working correctly. Let’s take a look at where heat pump ice comes from, and why you should keep an eye on it.

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Ductless Problems to Be Aware of This Fall

Monday, October 12th, 2015

As we get deeper into the heating season, you are going to start relying on your heating system more and more. No matter what heating system you have, you need to be aware of the different issues that can affect it over time. If you have a ductless heating system installed in your home, keep an eye out for signs of different problems. Let’s go over a couple of those problems now, and the symptoms that they cause.

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