My Heat Pump is Blowing Cold Air in “Heat” Mode!

Heat pumps are flexible, practical home systems that can blow hot or cold air, depending on the setting. However, even on the "heat" setting, heat pumps do not usually blow air that is as warm or intense as a standard furnace. 

If your heat pump is blowing cold air while it is in "heat" mode, these troubleshooting tips can help. If you're unable to discover the source of your problem following these tips, talk to an HVAC professional.

Hot Air from a Heat Pump May Still Feel Cool

Standard heat pumps blow air that falls in the range of 85 to 92° Fahrenheit. While these temperatures may be warm enough to heat your indoor spaces, this temperature is much cooler than the air temperatures emitted by a standard furnace.

Typical furnaces emit air that is between 130 and 140° Fahrenheit. If you're new to using a heat pump and are used to a standard furnace, then the air coming from your heat pump may feel quite cool.

What You Can Do

To find out whether cold air blowing out of vents when heat is on, take these steps:



1. Check the settings. Is the machine really on a "heat" setting? Many new products use symbols to show their setting, and sometimes these symbols can be easy to misinterpret. Check the owner's manual to ensure that your product setting is correct.
2. Use an infrared thermometer to check the air temperature. Infrared thermometers measure air temperature with accuracy. To use the thermometer, simply point the thermometer in the right direction and take the measurement. 
3. Wait and see. Don't have an infrared thermometer? Take the "wait and see" approach. If your home gets warm after the heat pump has been blowing for a time, then it's likely your heat pump is working properly. 
   

Your Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air? What You Can Do

After troubleshooting as described above, you may decide that your heat pump is definitely blowing cold air. If this is the case, take the following steps:

Turn the unit off and back on. You may have unknowingly pushed a setting on your heat pump's thermostat that is causing cold air to blow. To get rid of any strange settings, turn off the thermostat and heat pump unit, then turn it back on. 

Check the air filter. Every heat pump has an air filter that needs to be changed or cleaned periodically. Follow the instructions in your owner's manual to check your heat pump's air filter. If your heat pump needs a new air filter (or needs the old air filter to be cleaned), do so. This can help improve your heat pump's performance. 

Turn the thermostat to "auto." The "on" setting on the thermostat will cause the heat pump's fan to blow, regardless of whether the heat in the unit is running. If the heat pump is set to "on," switch the thermostat setting to "auto" to fix this problem. 

Have questions about heat pump blowing cold air? Call for HVAC repair today.