Heat Pump Not Heating In Your Charleston Area Home? Here’s Why And What You Can Do

Feeling uncomfortable in your own home is never a fun situation.

Here in the Lowcountry we mostly battle our harsh summertime heat and humidity, but as we enter into late fall and winter those battles are with the cooler temperatures not typically associated with the Southeast United States.

That cold weather can present many challenges for Lowcountry homeowners as most HVAC systems are tuned specifically for those summertime months.

Many homes in our area are equipped with heat pump systems that can help handle those heating challenges. Heat pumps are able to operate in the summer (cooling homes) and the winter (heating homes).

You can review the finer details of heat pump operation in this previous post, but essentially the system is equipped to seamlessly switch between cooling operation and heating operation – something that is extremely convenient for Lowcountry residents.

While having additional heating sources – like a full, standalone furnace – are always nice to have a dedicated heating supply, the versatility of heat pump systems makes them a much more popular option for the area.

That said, however, heat pumps do have limitations – which can leave you feeling colder than you’d like during the winter season.

Here’s what might be happening if you’re feeling a chill in your home with a heat pump system.

Your Heat Pump System Can Provide Warmth – To A Point

Heat pumps, while very effective during our usual winters here in the Lowcountry do have limitations when it comes to that effectiveness.

This can vary depending on the make or model of your heat pump system (and by type of heat pump system), but when temperatures dip below freezing they can often work less efficiently.

Though these temperatures are usual extreme and rare here in the Lowcountry, it can stretch even the best heat pump systems when it gets that cold.

Heat pumps will often have a backup heating source – electrical heating strips – that can help supply your home with heat during these lower temperature stretches.

Your Heat Pump System May Need To Be Repaired

Beyond the normal limits of heat pump systems, your lack of heat from your heat pump could very well be from something that needs to be fixed with your system.

Just as in traditional air conditioning systems, heat pump parts wear down over time.

This wear and tear may be more prevalent in heat pumps as it runs throughout the year, during both the cooling and heating season.

Repairs can range from the small to the large as with any mechanical system, but often repairs are more likely with older systems that have faced multiple seasons here in the Lowcountry.

Your Heat Pump System May Need To Be Replaced

As mentioned above, as time goes on heat pumps will tend to see more repair work done as it gets closer to the end of its lifespan.

Frequent and large repairs over time can really add up and put a dent in your wallet, so if you’re on the phone with your local HVAC team often, it’d likely be a good time to explore replacement options with them.

Replacements may feel daunting, but they also present an opportunity to upgrade your system to a more energy efficient model – something that may help reduce your energy bills over time.

Not Sure Where To Start? Contact Your Friendly, Neighborhood HVAC Company

No one likes to feel cold and uncomfortable in their own home, and trying to figure it out on your own only adds to that frustration.

When in doubt, the best thing you can do is ring up your local, neighborhood HVAC contractor for support.

Rather than searching endless articles online for a solution, your HVAC technician can quickly identify the source of your drafty home and offer specific solutions to get you feeling warm again.

No guesswork, shorter time-to-warmth; something that everyone in your home will love.

Heat pump systems are wonderful and powerful solutions for Lowcountry homeowners, but if you run into some issues this winter, follow some of my tips above to get you and your family back living comfortable again.