A heat pump is an efficient and effective household item that offers cooling and heating to make the house cozy and comfortable all year round. Reversing valves are key to changing the cooling mode to heating in winter. Unfortunately, reversing valves can get stuck due to a variety of reasons. As a result, the heat pump cannot switch between cooling and heating modes. This could be a frustrating issue and needs quick heat pump repair to get the unit running back to normal. So, let’s look at what fixing a stuck reversing valve entails.

How Does A Heat Pump Reversing Valve Work?

Before we can get into discussing how to fix a stuck reversing valve, it is important that you understand how a heat pump reversing valve works. In simple words, a reversing valve is sued to switch between heating and cooling modes.

In technical terms, a heat pump reversing valve controls the direction of the refrigerant inside the heat pump system.

In cooling mode, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoors. It moves to the outdoor unit’s coils (condenser coils) and the heat is dissipated outdoors. The process keeps repeating until the system reach the set temperature. Then, the unit cycles off till the temperature rises and the unit cycles on again.

But when the system is in heating mode, the valve functions by switching the flow of the refrigerant. The refrigerant then absorbs the heat from the air outside and transfers it indoors through the evaporator coil to provide heating indoors. This means the reversing valve is an important component of the heat pump.

It needs to function properly to tackle extreme temperatures. If for some reason, the reversing valve malfunctions, you should start working on getting it fixed to ensure efficient and consistent heating or cooling.

Symptoms Of A Stuck Reversing Valve

Here are some symptoms that will help determine if your reversing valve is struggling to function normally.

Operating In The Incorrect Mode

The most obvious sign of a stuck heat pump reversing valve is when operates in the wrong mode or doesn’t switch from cooling to heating and vice versa. For instance, if you notice that the thermostat is set to heating but the system is blowing cold air, it means the valve is stuck. You should shut down the unit and try to release the stuck reversing valve.

If that is not possible, you will need to consult an expert. In some cases, a stuck reversing valve might be fixable. But in some other cases, the only option is to replace the reversing valve. There is nothing much you can do to fix a stuck reversing valve apart from that.

Inconsistent Temperatures

Another tell-tale sign of a stuck or malfunctioning reversing valve is inconsistent temperatures. If you observe that your heat pump is struggling to achieve or maintain a desired temperature, it means the reversing valve could be stuck.

However, you need to keep in mind that inconsistent temperatures can be a result of several issues such as clogged air filters, frozen evaporator coils, or then again, a malfunctioning reversing valve. You don’t need to blame the valve as soon as you observe inconsistent temperatures.

You will have to cover the basics first like cleaning the filters and the condenser unit and then move up to the technical issues. The reason is that you might end up playing around with the valve and damaging it when it was not even a culprit to begin with. If you do not have any expertise in this regard, better call an expert.

Strange Noises

If you observe that your heat pump has started to make strange noises such as clicking, hissing, or gurgling, it might be that the flow of refrigerant is disrupted and the heat pump reversing valve may struggle to switch between cooling and heating settings. This causes an excess burden on the heat pump components and results in strange noises.

But, then again, these strange noises could also be caused due to several other issues such as worn-out bearings or leaking refrigerant or a malfunctioning compressor. Before you can point towards the reversing valve, you must make sure the problem does not lie anywhere else.

What Are The Common Causes Of A Stuck Heat Pump Reversing Valve?

Now that you are familiar with the symptoms of a stuck heat pump reversing valve, it is equally important that you are aware of the common causes as well so you can fix it if you have the tools and skills.

Faulty Solenoid Coil

To begin with, the reversing valve might be stuck due to the heat pump’s solenoid coil in the reversing valve being problematic. This helps in switching between cooling and heating by changing the direction of the refrigerant’s flow. A solenoid coil is reparable. However, it should only by done by an expert.

Improper Installation

If the heat pump is incorrectly installed by a novice, many issues can arise and one of them is a stuck reversing valve.

Electrical Issues

Furthermore, electrical issues can also contribute to a stuck heat pump reversing valve. It could be due to faulty connections or controls and issues with the thermostat that are not allowing the components to communicate properly. Plus, if there is an interruption in the flow of electrical signals, the reversing valve along with other components might struggle to function normally.

Refrigerant Leak

Plus, a refrigerant leak is also a major cause for concern. If the heat pump is low on refrigerant, it will affect the flow and pressure, hindering the system’s ability to switch between heating and cooling. And you should know that low refrigerant levels means that there is a leakage. So, you need a technician who can check the refrigerant levels and if the levels are low, the expert should spot the leak and fix it.

Older Unit

Finally, it comes down to the age factor. Heat pumps will last several years before needing a replacement if they are properly maintained. But, sooner or later they will need replacement as the parts of the HVAC system wear out.

If you heat pump is older than 15 years, there is no point in spending excess amounts on repairs and replacements. If the repair cost become equal or exceeded the value of the heat pump, you should get it replaced.

Why Regularly Maintain Your Heat Pump?

Heat pumps require professional maintenance to function properly. While you cannot stop the aging factor, maintaining the heat pump will help prolong the unit’s lifespan and avoid unexpected complications. You should also take it upon yourself to perform weekly inspections and maintenance, but professional maintenance goes deep inside the unit. It should be scheduled at least twice a year if the heat pump is used in both summer and winter.

Conclusion

Fortunately, fixing or replacing a malfunctioning reverse valve is not expensive. You should look for the signs and call in heat pump repair services McLean who will inspect the unit and unstick or replace the reversing valve. But you can prevent all such complications from taking place by getting the heat pump regularly inspected and maintained. It will go a long way in terms of keeping things moving smoothly.