Here’s Why Your Heat Pump Won’t Turn Off

Heat pumps are a great alternative to heating and cooling systems like air conditioners, furnaces, and boilers. These two-in-one units offer warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer by transferring heat rather than producing it, proving more eco-friendly, cost-efficient, and convenient than two separate systems. However, these attributes diminish if your heat pump won’t turn off. 

Just as there are numerous reasons your heat pump won’t turn on, from faulty thermostat controls to dirty air filters, there are many issues that might keep your system from powering down. Below, our Comfort Specialists team explains the top four culprits and when to call for a heat pump repair in Roxbury Township, NJ.

1. Thermostat Issues

Your thermostat monitors your indoor temperature throughout each day, and once it drops too low or rises too high, it signals the heat pump to start heating or cooling, respectively. But if you’ve accidentally nudged the dial, setting it too high or low, the system long cycles. 

Fortunately, this is an easy fix since simply checking and recalibrating your thermostat gets your heat pump back on track. But if your thermostat setting is correct and this doesn’t help, check your thermostat batteries and wiring. 

Dying batteries or a bad wiring connection leads to faulty readings that tell your heat pump it needs to function longer than it should. Old batteries may also stop working in the middle of a cycle, leaving nothing to tell your heating and cooling system when to power down. So, change them and hire a professional to look at and repair any wiring issues. 

2. Damaged Compressor

A compressor contactor includes contact points that click together at the beginning of every cycle. Upon snapping together, the compressor pulls a high voltage from the contactor to run your heat pump. Once your indoor climate matches your desired temperature, the thermostat tells the unit to power down, and the contactor opens to halt electricity. 

However, the compressor may become damaged over time, causing it to lose functionality. If the contactor doesn’t detach after the cycle, your heat pump won’t turn off, meaning you'll need a contactor repair or replacement. 

3. Refrigerant Leak 

Like other cooling HVAC equipment, heat pumps contain refrigerant, which is a cooling chemical that absorbs warm air from one environment and expels it into another. It travels through an evaporator coil that sucks up warmth from air flowing around it; the condenser coil releases the warmth either indoors during the winter or outdoors during the summer. 

However, without fully charged refrigerant, the system won’t absorb enough warmth, prolonging the cooling or heating process. The heat pump won’t turn off, running longer to reach your desired temperature. So, call for a refrigerant leak inspection and recharge. 

4. Auto-Switching 

Because it handles both cooling and heating, heat pumps have a reverse valve that changes the direction of heat flow depending on the time of year. For instance, if it’s too hot indoors, the reverse valve ejects warm air outdoors just as it brings hot air in during the winter. 

Many also have an auto-switch setting that allows the unit to decide for itself whether you need warm or cold air according to your preset temperature setpoints. If the temperature rises higher or lower than your setpoint, the system reverses heat flow without you having to flip it manually. 

However, cooling and warming isn’t an exact science, meaning if you’re aiming for a 78-degree home in the summer, your system may have a one-to-two-degree margin of error. Your home may reach 76 to 77 degrees before your unit shuts down. 

That’s why these systems have a differential temperature range between 0.5 and one degree, meaning your system won’t automatically flip to heating for this slight variation. But if broken, it’ll continue to switch back and forth, never powering down. While increasing or decreasing your setpoint temperature range may help, consider calling for an expert opinion. 

We Specialize in Your Comfort!

Unfortunately, since these systems include numerous parts, there are many other reasons why a heat pump stops working, from a broken relay switch to a clogged condenser line. 

Rather than start picking out a replacement unit, trust Comfort Specialists for five-star heat pump services. With extensive know-how on all cooling, heating, and electrical equipment and 24/7 services, we’re there for you at any time, for any reason. Call 973-310-7187 in Roxbury Township, NJ, if your heat pump won’t turn off! We're ready to help.