If your heat pump in Dundalk isn’t working well, you won’t be comfortable. You could be days away from needing a complete system replacement or a costly repair. One sign of trouble to come is a leak in the system. Find out why heat pumps leak and what a professional can do to fix it. Whether you need heat pump maintenance or repair, you should always rely on an expert for assistance.

What is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is one of the more efficient heating and cooling systems. To adjust to your needs, the system changes the flow of refrigerant. This allows you to heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. Thanks to a reversing valve, the heat pump can easily swap modes and keep your home comfortable.If you have a leaking heat pump, you have a problem somewhere in the system. You may not have an HVAC emergency, but you should call in a professional. The leak could lead to property damage and mold growth. Furthermore, the leak is a sign of wear and tear. By ignoring the problem, you do damage to your heat pump. 

The Common Causes of Leaky Heat Pumps

Your heat pump may be leaking for one of several reasons. Here are a few of the most common reasons for leaky heat pumps:Drain Clogs or IssuesYour heat pump creates moisture, and that moisture needs to go somewhere. Typically, moisture travels into a condensate pan and down a drain line. Over time, the drain line could develop a clog. Mold or algae could keep the water from going down the drain line, which leaves the water to pool up in the pan and then onto the floor. In the case of a clog, you should call a professional and have them remove the blockage. An expert has the right tools to suck out stubborn clogs and clear the line. It’s an easy, cheap fix. The issue may not be a clog if you have a new heat pump. Instead, it could be a faulty installation. The drain line might be too long or might not work with gravity. You may need an expert to redesign your drain line to remedy this. Moving the pipes around could fix the drainage issue.Dirty CoilsThe evaporator coil of your heat pump collects condensation and sends it into the drain pan and down the drain. If you have a dirty coil, it cannot handle the condensation and will cause water to drip onto the floor. This explains the leak.You can prevent this from happening by scheduling routine HVAC maintenance. If you haven’t had routine maintenance and the coil is already dirty, you can call a heating and air conditioning service near me and have them clean your coil. During a coil cleaning, the expert will wipe it down with a special cleaning solution. Then, they will use a hose to rinse off the coils gently. You shouldn’t try to clean the coils yourself because you could damage the fins. If you don’t hit the fins head-on, you risk damaging the system. For the best results, you should hire a professional for help.Cracked PanIf you have a crack in the overflow pan, water will leak out and onto your floor. And cracks in the overflow pan are more frequent than you may think. The pan has constant exposure to water, so it’s likely to rust or corrode. Fortunately, this one is an easy fix. If you notice water pooling on your floor, check your drain pan. You can buy a new one and should replace it as quickly as possible. Frozen Evaporator Coil One of the more common causes of a leaky heat pump is a frozen evaporator coil. This can occur when the refrigerant levels are lower than necessary, which results in ice forming on the coils. After the ice melts, it forms a puddle of water on the ground.If you have a frozen evaporator coil, you need an immediate repair. The problem reduces the efficiency of your heat pump and causes excessive wear and tear. You should have a professional inspect your system and check the refrigerant level. Only a trained and certified professional can handle refrigerants. The refrigerant system is closed, and the refrigerant level should always remain the same. Therefore, low refrigerant is a sign of a problem. You could have a leak in your system, and this demands an emergency repair. If your technician simply refills the refrigerant, the refrigerant will leak out, and your coils will freeze again. 

How to Prevent Leaks

You probably don’t want to deal with heat pump leaks. And while you can’t ever guarantee that your heat pump will work well, you can take measures to increase your chances of it working well. With a little TLC, your heat pump can endure the months of wear and tear.Perhaps the best thing you can do for your heat pump is to schedule routine maintenance. Every six months or more, you should have a professional come out and inspect your system. They will check every aspect of your system and identify problem areas. By receiving routine maintenance, you may be able to keep your system from leaking. There are a few things you can do on your own to keep your heat pump from leaking. For one, you should change out your filters frequently. Clogged filters could lead to frozen evaporator coils, as well as unnecessary wear and tear. You should change out your filters once every three months. if you have reusable filters, clean them every three months. You can find out information about your filters in your heat pump manual. It can tell you everything you need to know.

Call Us for Heat Pump Maintenance

If you don’t want to deal with the consequences of a leaky heat pump in Dundalk, call us at Reliability Home Services. Our heat pump maintenance could prevent leaks as well as other issues with your system. To schedule your next maintenance call, contact us today. (443) 399-8663