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Common Heat Pump Problems

February 3, 2023

Due to the Inflation Reduction Act, many California homeowners are excited about the tax credit and rebate options that come with installing an energy efficient heat pump. Heat pumps can provide many benefits for your home, but it is important to be aware of the problems the unit can experience. Like most home appliances, heat pumps will need repair from time to time and Brody Pennell is prepared to assist you. However, remaining knowledgeable about common problems and warning signs can help catch an uncomfortable breakdown early. In this blog, we discuss common heat pump problems and possible causes to prepare you and your home for the future.


To learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act and how it can benefit homeowners in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, visit our California Heat Pump Electrification blog post!


5 Heat Pump Malfunctions & Possible Causes

Heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling for your home to keep you comfortable in every season. Due to the unit working full time, it may experience malfunctions and require repair. Below are 5 common heat pump issues homeowners in Santa Monica and surrounding areas experience.

  • Loss Of Power
  • Running Constantly
  • Little Or No Airflow
  • Unusual Sounds Or Smells
  • Not Heating Or Cooling

Loss Of Power

If you notice your heat pump isn’t turning on, we first recommend starting with the thermostat. The thermostat is the brain of the operations and can affect the whole system if malfunctioning. As silly as it sounds, ensure that your thermostat is on and set to the correct settings. Another resident in your home may have altered the thermostat accidentally and caused it to power off. Your thermostat should read the correct temperature and be set to “Auto” for efficient heating. If the thermostat will not power on, it may need new batteries. Other causes for your heat pump not working could be:

  • Broken reversing valve
  • Broken starter capacitor
  • Whole home loss of power
  • We recommend calling a Brody Pennell technician if your thermostat is operating correctly, but your heat pump is not turning on. We can quickly identify the issue and repair to restore your home comfort in no time!

Running Constantly

A heat pump running constantly can be due to many factors. Again, we recommend starting with the thermostat. When thermostats are set to “On,” it indicates the heat pump will run even if it is not working to heat or cool your home. Thermostats set to “Auto” only run the heat pump when heating or cooling your home.

If your thermostat settings are correct, check the status of your air filters. Heat pumps struggle to push air through dirty air filters, which causes the unit to work longer to heat and cool your home. Other causes to your heat pump running constantly can include:

  • Broken compressor
  • Dirty coils
  • Refrigerant leak

Little Or No Airflow

Little to no airflow indicates an internal or air filter issue. As we mentioned, heat pumps use more energy to push air through dirty air filters. If your air filters are clear of debris, no airflow could be caused by a malfunctioning blower. The blower is responsible for pushing air through the air ducts and into your home. Blowers can malfunction due to dust build up or wear and tear throughout the years. We recommend calling an experienced Brody Pennell technician to assess the issue rather than attempting to repair the blower yourself.

Unusual Sounds Or Smells

You may experience unusual sounds or smells from your heat pump, which is uncomfortable for everyone in your home. Pay attention for the following sounds to identify the common issue:

  • Banging Noise: If the noise coming from your heat pump is similar to a banging noise, it could indicate a loose part inside the system. The metal hitting other metal components can cause further damage, so we recommend calling a professional immediately to avoid other broken parts.
  • Rattling Noise: If rattling sounds are coming from your heat pump, it is likely due to a loose cover panel, which can be easily fixed by tightening screws.
  • Buzzing Noise: A buzzing noise coming from your heat pump typically indicates an internal problem that should not be ignored, such as dirty motor bearings or malfunctioning coils.

Weird smells coming from your heat pump can indicate mold growth or animal infiltration. We can help identify either problem and direct you towards a solution!

Not Heating Or Cooling

Many homeowners experience their air vents blowing air, but not the correct temperature for the setting. If your heat pump is blowing cold air in the winter or warm air in the summer, we recommend looking at the status of the outdoor unit. Outdoor units can be blocked by debris such as tree branches, grass, and ice in the winter. If the outdoor unit is in good condition, the problem could lie with low refrigerant levels. Refrigerant helps the heat pump effectively heat and cool. We recommend allowing a professional to check the status of your refrigerant levels, because refrigerant is toxic and can cause health issues. Other causes to your heat pump blowing the incorrect temperature can include:

  • Faulty Thermostat
  • Air Leaks
  • Dirty Air Filters

Let us help keep your heat pump in perfect condition with our heat pump maintenance services in Los Angeles and surrounding areas! If you experience any of the common heat pump problems listed, give us a call. Each Brody Pennell technician is an expert at repairing all types of heat pump systems.


About The Author

Brody Pennell

Since 1945, Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditioning is the committed to helping homeowners in the greater Los Angeles area experience total home comfort. In 2021, the readers of the Los Angeles Times voted Brody Pennell the Best HVAC Company in the area.

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Neal S.
1710783550
System inspected and serviced today by Anthony Manzo, and wow! So impressive. Cannot recommend more highly. Just great!!!
Marina K.
1710783093
Brody-Pennell always is reliable. We had no air conditioning and we called them. Rodrigo Estrada came out after hours and was so knowledgeable about our system that needed new ductwork. It all Made sense. He didn’t rush us and was great to work with. We hope to have him service our house regularly. Jose C and Juan R were very knowledgeable and friendly.Ivan and Angel O came today to put in the new part. They were so quick and efficient. The pictures were amazing and I saw exactly what they completed. Very happy with the job.
Richard B.
1710709220
Lloyd T.
1710631069
Fabio and David Mares rescued us when our furnace gave out. David gave us a clear, understandable explanation of the problems and how he was going to fix them. We are grateful to both of them.
Brian T.
1710556700
Brody Pennell handles my residential heating and AC. The team is always professional, and the performance of the techs is consistently top notch. One of these techs, Daniel Avila, was out to my place today to check my AC system and was a delight to work with.
Abel V.
1710551013
Juan and Christian did a great job with our semi-annual servicing. As always, prompt, courteous and thorough. Great job!
Dividend D.
1710548336
Juan Romo saved the day! And Enrique & Raul started off my day with great results, fixing a difficult problem with a brilliant fix - all while saving me 1/2 the original estimate with their rigorous plan of attack. When Raul & Enrique left at 5:00 PM, the system was fixed and running beautifully. Then for some reason the a/c in the master bedroom turned off. A kind service agent named Juan drove back out and ran diagnostics and in a 1/2 hour, figured out the problem and resolved the issue. A rare triple play! These guys are relentless and brilliant. A group you can count on!3/15/24Rene & Leo Morales are the Dream Team for Brody Pennells annual HVAC checkup. They worked fast - Rene is committed to getting finished and not wasting your day and his son Leo shares that philosophy. They pointed out some issues with 2 of our units - with photographic evidence - and scheduled a visit for a tech to come right back out next week to remedy the problems. BP is the finest HVAC company in SoCal and their technicians help to maintain that reputation.
Abe S.
1710544644
Mary R.
1710542910
Timothy was professional and thorough with our maintenance and inspection. We feel secure with our decisions about our unit.
Jane M.
1710537129
Ivan was great, very friendly and efficient
Milo R.
1710534602
James H did a great job!
D W
1710527004
Timothy and Ken. Did good work.
septimusson
1710520321
Excellent work by Giovanny Gerson and his assistant! Efficient, tidy, informative and friendly. I have come rely on B.P!
David Y.
1710453605
updating my previous review.I signed up for a membership last year and am finding it well worth it as it offers a solid discount on all of the work. Had a maintenance visit today with Anthony Manzo and Angel O to service my AC unit. They went about their work efficiently and were very transparent in describing the condition of everything they found with thorough explanations and pictures. There were a few parts that were getting a little older, but they were honest in saying none of it had to be done today. No hard sell. Nevertheless, I decided to replace the alternator as that was using extra electricity to start up our AC (which we use pretty heavily) and was taxing the other parts. All in all, a very good visit by their technicians. I renewed my membership out my satisfaction. Thank you Brody Pennell!old review:Very good experience with air conditioning and heater servicing. Easy to make the appointment, good updating on timing, and installer, Armando was very professional and tidy. Took good and extensive pictures of the work, so I didn't have to go up into the attic and get dirty. All for a fair price. I'm very happy. Thank you very much Armando and Brody Pennell!
Beth G.
1710439347
Daniel B. and Robert S. were amazing, fast, kind, and cleaned up after themselves. Highly recommend!
CD R.
1710434960
Rene Morales and Leo Morales serviced my Unit pursuant to my maintenance contract. They were on time, professional, knowledgable, and answered questions I had. Rene has serviced my Unit for aprox 10+ years and he is truly an asset to Brody Pennell. Thank you!
Evelyn T.
1710376418
Juan Molina and Pablo did an excellent job with maintenance issues. Very pleasant and knowledgeable.
Stan L.
1710375722
This was the most thorough service I've had.
Gareth A.
1710368008
Pam G.
1710364823
Shout-out to superstar duo James H and Alessandro A !Professional, knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Went above and beyond to get the job done. Thank you!!
Elan S.
1710357166
David M and Albert H were great. They were very knowledgeable and honest and highly recommend them
Brooke M.
1710356216
Ivan and Leo H spent the whole day at my house and even helped clean my systems and install air cleaners to monitor quality. The service was incredible!
Roger Z.
1710353964
Juan Molina and Pablo did a great job diagnosing our HVAC issues.
Dioselin S.
1710348655
Great service provided from Anthony Manzo and Jeremy m
Terence R.
1710286775
James and Dio arrived in timely fashion and were expert professionals. I will always want them to perform my service.
Ann Marie S.
1710284476
We have been using their maintenance service for some time, but now the big one came, and we had to replace our furnace. Mike Ibarra and Raul Ibarra were so careful, went above and beyond, kept us updated on the progress throughout the install, and were awesome. Thank you!
Terry W.
1710281762
Our service tech James arrived on time, completed the maintenance in a timely fashion, communicated everything he was doing. Very happy with the job he did.Edit: We had Brody Pennell back again today, March 12th, 2024 to do our semi-annual hvac maintenance. Ruben and Angel did a great job, we're very friendly and professional and finished the job quickly. I highly recommend Brody Pennell.
Linde B.
1710281454
Donovan was terrific in every respect.
Lina S
1710276392
Juan Molina and ifty they did a great job!
Lisa S.
1710268380
Armando did an excellent job.He is very thorough and professional.
Robert P.
1710267027
Anthony Manzo was excellent and extremely professional.
Paul R.
1710263927
Rene great job!Heating service by Troy and Estaban great work.
Z D.
1710202761
Troy and Daniel g did great !
The Suí Generis C.
1710200763
Tim and David came out today and were very knowledgeable about the job at hand. I appreciate them both being transparent and honest about what they found and the best way to handle the job. I would recommend them and the company in the future. Thanks guys!
Barbara
1710196204
Brody technicians Frank Trejo, Pascual Hernandez, and Pablo Pluma installed a sleek looking mini-split AC/heating unit in my home today. They arrived right on time, worked quickly and efficiently and instructed me on using the unit once they completed the installation. I was very impressed with their professionalism.
Lisa H.
1710195598
Shawn and Anthony were terrific. Would highly recommend using them. Very kind and accommodating.
Allison C.
1710195034
Such a great experience, Ruben and Tristan were so polite and knowledgeable. It’s always a pleasure doing business with them
Paul G.
1710190937
Daniel B. and Angel O. did a great job. They not only checked to make sure everything in the heating system was in good shape, but I asked if there was a fan mode (with no heating or cooling) and they showed me how to turn it on and off. When on, I could feel the air, but only a small amount, so I asked and they made the fan blow a bit more strongly to where I wanted it. Great job!
Odaliz C.
1710182339
Anthony Manzo and Gerson Chacón
Mobile White S.
1710180257
Marco was great. Very communicative and upfront about the situation and solution to the problem.
Hilary W.
1710179545
Donovan was super easy to work with - on time, thorough, and friendly.
D
1710173574
Timothy was a great service tech with a lot of experience and a good attitude.
Daniel B.
1710173221
The service technician was on time and polite and informative. Provided clear feedback on the potential issues and discussed follow up to resolve the matter.
Janet G.
1710172467
Renee & Leo were fantastic!! Very thorough and informative!!
Ana L.
1710129417
Juan Romo was amazing!!! Super friendly and showed me pictures about the work he did. Explain future work I need on my HVAC system.
Rochelle S.
1710011545
Cesar F. He arrived on time and telephoned me before arrival. He was extremely courteous and listened pationately to my problems with my thermostat. He explained in detail how to use and program it. I would not hesitate to recommend him and you are indeed fortunate to have him on your team.
Deb S.
1709938768
Rene was our technician today. On time service and very efficient!3/8/2024Rene and leo morales are great
Abe S.
1709935885
Very thorough work. Really enjoyed working with them. Would definitely recommend using this company in the future. I worked with David M and he was fantastic. Adding to my initial review because my new heat pump needed some extra work and two technicians came, Arshag and Leo H. and they were both so great. There were so issues needing troubleshooting and they worked hard and fast to resolve, 5 stars across the board.
A D.
1709933743
Timothy, Brett, and Gerson were smart, knowledgeable, and thorough! Highly recommend!
Sally C.
1709933231
Edwin & Jesus
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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Neal S.
1710783550
System inspected and serviced today by Anthony Manzo, and wow! So impressive. Cannot recommend more highly. Just great!!!
Marina K.
1710783093
Brody-Pennell always is reliable. We had no air conditioning and we called them. Rodrigo Estrada came out after hours and was so knowledgeable about our system that needed new ductwork. It all Made sense. He didn’t rush us and was great to work with. We hope to have him service our house regularly. Jose C and Juan R were very knowledgeable and friendly.Ivan and Angel O came today to put in the new part. They were so quick and efficient. The pictures were amazing and I saw exactly what they completed. Very happy with the job.
Richard B.
1710709220
Lloyd T.
1710631069
Fabio and David Mares rescued us when our furnace gave out. David gave us a clear, understandable explanation of the problems and how he was going to fix them. We are grateful to both of them.
Brian T.
1710556700
Brody Pennell handles my residential heating and AC. The team is always professional, and the performance of the techs is consistently top notch. One of these techs, Daniel Avila, was out to my place today to check my AC system and was a delight to work with.
Abel V.
1710551013
Juan and Christian did a great job with our semi-annual servicing. As always, prompt, courteous and thorough. Great job!
Dividend D.
1710548336
Juan Romo saved the day! And Enrique & Raul started off my day with great results, fixing a difficult problem with a brilliant fix - all while saving me 1/2 the original estimate with their rigorous plan of attack. When Raul & Enrique left at 5:00 PM, the system was fixed and running beautifully. Then for some reason the a/c in the master bedroom turned off. A kind service agent named Juan drove back out and ran diagnostics and in a 1/2 hour, figured out the problem and resolved the issue. A rare triple play! These guys are relentless and brilliant. A group you can count on!3/15/24Rene & Leo Morales are the Dream Team for Brody Pennells annual HVAC checkup. They worked fast - Rene is committed to getting finished and not wasting your day and his son Leo shares that philosophy. They pointed out some issues with 2 of our units - with photographic evidence - and scheduled a visit for a tech to come right back out next week to remedy the problems. BP is the finest HVAC company in SoCal and their technicians help to maintain that reputation.
Abe S.
1710544644
Mary R.
1710542910
Timothy was professional and thorough with our maintenance and inspection. We feel secure with our decisions about our unit.
Jane M.
1710537129
Ivan was great, very friendly and efficient
Milo R.
1710534602
James H did a great job!
D W
1710527004
Timothy and Ken. Did good work.
septimusson
1710520321
Excellent work by Giovanny Gerson and his assistant! Efficient, tidy, informative and friendly. I have come rely on B.P!
David Y.
1710453605
updating my previous review.I signed up for a membership last year and am finding it well worth it as it offers a solid discount on all of the work. Had a maintenance visit today with Anthony Manzo and Angel O to service my AC unit. They went about their work efficiently and were very transparent in describing the condition of everything they found with thorough explanations and pictures. There were a few parts that were getting a little older, but they were honest in saying none of it had to be done today. No hard sell. Nevertheless, I decided to replace the alternator as that was using extra electricity to start up our AC (which we use pretty heavily) and was taxing the other parts. All in all, a very good visit by their technicians. I renewed my membership out my satisfaction. Thank you Brody Pennell!old review:Very good experience with air conditioning and heater servicing. Easy to make the appointment, good updating on timing, and installer, Armando was very professional and tidy. Took good and extensive pictures of the work, so I didn't have to go up into the attic and get dirty. All for a fair price. I'm very happy. Thank you very much Armando and Brody Pennell!
Beth G.
1710439347
Daniel B. and Robert S. were amazing, fast, kind, and cleaned up after themselves. Highly recommend!
CD R.
1710434960
Rene Morales and Leo Morales serviced my Unit pursuant to my maintenance contract. They were on time, professional, knowledgable, and answered questions I had. Rene has serviced my Unit for aprox 10+ years and he is truly an asset to Brody Pennell. Thank you!
Evelyn T.
1710376418
Juan Molina and Pablo did an excellent job with maintenance issues. Very pleasant and knowledgeable.
Stan L.
1710375722
This was the most thorough service I've had.
Gareth A.
1710368008
Pam G.
1710364823
Shout-out to superstar duo James H and Alessandro A !Professional, knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Went above and beyond to get the job done. Thank you!!
Elan S.
1710357166
David M and Albert H were great. They were very knowledgeable and honest and highly recommend them
Brooke M.
1710356216
Ivan and Leo H spent the whole day at my house and even helped clean my systems and install air cleaners to monitor quality. The service was incredible!
Roger Z.
1710353964
Juan Molina and Pablo did a great job diagnosing our HVAC issues.
Dioselin S.
1710348655
Great service provided from Anthony Manzo and Jeremy m
Terence R.
1710286775
James and Dio arrived in timely fashion and were expert professionals. I will always want them to perform my service.
Ann Marie S.
1710284476
We have been using their maintenance service for some time, but now the big one came, and we had to replace our furnace. Mike Ibarra and Raul Ibarra were so careful, went above and beyond, kept us updated on the progress throughout the install, and were awesome. Thank you!
Terry W.
1710281762
Our service tech James arrived on time, completed the maintenance in a timely fashion, communicated everything he was doing. Very happy with the job he did.Edit: We had Brody Pennell back again today, March 12th, 2024 to do our semi-annual hvac maintenance. Ruben and Angel did a great job, we're very friendly and professional and finished the job quickly. I highly recommend Brody Pennell.
Linde B.
1710281454
Donovan was terrific in every respect.
Lina S
1710276392
Juan Molina and ifty they did a great job!
Lisa S.
1710268380
Armando did an excellent job.He is very thorough and professional.
Robert P.
1710267027
Anthony Manzo was excellent and extremely professional.
Paul R.
1710263927
Rene great job!Heating service by Troy and Estaban great work.
Z D.
1710202761
Troy and Daniel g did great !
The Suí Generis C.
1710200763
Tim and David came out today and were very knowledgeable about the job at hand. I appreciate them both being transparent and honest about what they found and the best way to handle the job. I would recommend them and the company in the future. Thanks guys!
Barbara
1710196204
Brody technicians Frank Trejo, Pascual Hernandez, and Pablo Pluma installed a sleek looking mini-split AC/heating unit in my home today. They arrived right on time, worked quickly and efficiently and instructed me on using the unit once they completed the installation. I was very impressed with their professionalism.
Lisa H.
1710195598
Shawn and Anthony were terrific. Would highly recommend using them. Very kind and accommodating.
Allison C.
1710195034
Such a great experience, Ruben and Tristan were so polite and knowledgeable. It’s always a pleasure doing business with them
Paul G.
1710190937
Daniel B. and Angel O. did a great job. They not only checked to make sure everything in the heating system was in good shape, but I asked if there was a fan mode (with no heating or cooling) and they showed me how to turn it on and off. When on, I could feel the air, but only a small amount, so I asked and they made the fan blow a bit more strongly to where I wanted it. Great job!
Odaliz C.
1710182339
Anthony Manzo and Gerson Chacón
Mobile White S.
1710180257
Marco was great. Very communicative and upfront about the situation and solution to the problem.
Hilary W.
1710179545
Donovan was super easy to work with - on time, thorough, and friendly.
D
1710173574
Timothy was a great service tech with a lot of experience and a good attitude.
Daniel B.
1710173221
The service technician was on time and polite and informative. Provided clear feedback on the potential issues and discussed follow up to resolve the matter.
Janet G.
1710172467
Renee & Leo were fantastic!! Very thorough and informative!!
Ana L.
1710129417
Juan Romo was amazing!!! Super friendly and showed me pictures about the work he did. Explain future work I need on my HVAC system.
Rochelle S.
1710011545
Cesar F. He arrived on time and telephoned me before arrival. He was extremely courteous and listened pationately to my problems with my thermostat. He explained in detail how to use and program it. I would not hesitate to recommend him and you are indeed fortunate to have him on your team.
Deb S.
1709938768
Rene was our technician today. On time service and very efficient!3/8/2024Rene and leo morales are great
Abe S.
1709935885
Very thorough work. Really enjoyed working with them. Would definitely recommend using this company in the future. I worked with David M and he was fantastic. Adding to my initial review because my new heat pump needed some extra work and two technicians came, Arshag and Leo H. and they were both so great. There were so issues needing troubleshooting and they worked hard and fast to resolve, 5 stars across the board.
A D.
1709933743
Timothy, Brett, and Gerson were smart, knowledgeable, and thorough! Highly recommend!
Sally C.
1709933231
Edwin & Jesus
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