A heat pump will often give you signs of a problem long before a major malfunction or outright failure occurs. It’s why Meade’s Heating and Air recommends scheduling heat pump service in Leesburg, VA, at the first indication of an issue. Our team specializes in all manner of heat pumps, new and old. The sooner we get to a problem, the less expensive that repair will generally be. It’s also going to save you money through better energy efficiency. Struggling heat pump systems are inefficient and more expensive to run.
"I had a wonderful experience with Meade's. They are very friendly and responsive, they explain everything they are doing and how it all works. They are on time for every appointment, and very focused on the customer being happy with their work. I will be using them for all my HVAC needs and have already told several friends and neighbors about them." - Katie T.
Heat pumps use refrigerant to transfer heat energy. It’s what allows these systems to cool a home in the summer and heat it in the winter. A heat pump doesn’t consume refrigerant over time. It’s a closed system, and refrigerant can, in theory, last forever.
Leaks in that sealed system are possible, though. If a leak occurs, you’ll lose refrigerant, and pressure in the system will drop. Some leaks are major. You may experience pooling refrigerant near your outdoor condenser unit. In that case, the heat pump has likely turned off and won’t turn back on.
Most leaks aren’t that dramatic. In fact, fixing micro-leaks is a common heat pump repair. In these scenarios, the system is losing only a small amount and can run like that for a long time. At some point, though, this will lead to issues. Your electricity consumption will go up. You may also experience weak airflow and cold and warm spots in your rooms.
Can a refrigerant leak lead to heat pump replacement? It can. That said, most refrigerant leaks are fixable, and we can then recharge the system to run efficiently. Age is a consideration. If you have an older system, heat pump installation may be the better choice. This is particularly true if your system uses R-22 refrigerant. Production of R-22 is no longer legal in the United States. The U.S. has moved on to R410A. Since R-22 production isn’t allowed, recharging an R-22 system can be very expensive.
Watch for these other signs you may have a refrigerant leak.
Evaporator coil icing over
Increased humidity levels
Inconsistent temperatures
Spike in electrical costs
Long cooling or heating cycles
Top-Rated Heat Pumps in Leesburg
Meade’s Heating and Air is a local HVAC company that serves Leesburg and the surrounding areas. We offer scheduled repairs and also have repair technicians on call 24/7, including weekends and holidays. Our company is a proud member of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Our customer service approach has earned us BBB accreditation with an A+ rating. It’s also earned us awards, including a Neighborhood Favorite award from Nextdoor.
Is your heat pump system not working as well as it should? Contact Meade’s Heating and Air with any questions about your HVAC problems and to schedule heat pump service in Leesburg.