{"id":2858,"date":"2026-08-20T11:26:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T11:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arcticheatpumps.com\/blog\/?p=2858"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:01:23","slug":"why-is-my-heat-pump-not-heating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arcticheatpumps.com\/blog\/why-is-my-heat-pump-not-heating.html","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Heat Pump Not Heating? Causes, Troubleshooting, and Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2858\" class=\"elementor elementor-2858\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4dbfc0a3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4dbfc0a3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-56308408\" data-id=\"56308408\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-397903db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"397903db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thinking about why is my heat pump not heating? A heat pump that isn&#8217;t heating usually comes down to one of a short list of causes: a thermostat set wrong or out of calibration, a dirty air filter choking airflow, a frozen outdoor unit, a tripped breaker or an off power switch, a low refrigerant charge, or a failed reversing valve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About half of these you can resolve yourself in ten minutes. The rest involve the sealed refrigerant circuit or control board and need a licensed technician. Before assuming the worst, read our article to learn why heat pumps stop heating, the troubleshooting process, and how to maintain them to prevent future damage. Let\u2019s begin.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Possible Reasons Why Your Heat Pump Is Not Working Properly<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the reasons why your heat pump is not blowing warm air.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Check the temperature rise. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A typical heating system may show roughly a 15\u201325\u00b0F rise between return and supply air, although exact values vary by equipment and conditions.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>It may be in defrost mode.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In cold, damp weather, the outdoor unit may temporarily reverse operation to melt frost. Steam and a temporarily stopped outdoor fan can be normal. Frequent or prolonged defrosting is not.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Restricted airflow.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A dirty filter, blocked return, closed vents, damaged ductwork, or snow around the outdoor unit can reduce heating performance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low refrigerant.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Heat pumps do not normally consume refrigerant. Low levels usually indicate a leak and can cause poor heating, long run times, or coil icing.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Electrical or mechanical problems.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Failed capacitors, contactors, fan motors, reversing valves, controls, or compressors can prevent proper heating.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Thermostat or settings.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Incorrect mode, calibration issues, or poorly configured backup heat can make the system appear ineffective.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Backup heat may not operate.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A failed heat strip, sequencer, wiring issue, or incorrect lockout setting can prevent supplemental heat from engaging.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Outdoor temperature matters.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Heat pumps lose heating capacity as temperatures fall. If the system consistently struggles in cold weather, the issue may be sizing or system design rather than a failed component.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hydronic systems.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Low water flow, trapped air, clogged strainers, or poorly adjusted outdoor-reset controls can reduce heat output.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Is My Heat Pump Not Heating? Expert Troubleshooting Process<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work through these in order. Stop as soon as heat returns. Before you reset anything, photograph any fault code on the thermostat or controller; resetting erases the best clue a technician has.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorrect Thermostat Settings<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with the thermostat because this check is free and can solve many heating problems. Make sure it is set to Heat, the temperature is at least 2-3\u00b0F above the current room temperature, and the fan is set to Auto rather than On. When the fan stays on, it can circulate room-temperature air between heating cycles, making it feel as though the heat pump is blowing cold air. Also, check the programmed schedule and replace the batteries if needed.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uncalibrated or Faulty Thermostat<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A thermostat that reads the room temperature incorrectly can cause the heat pump to cycle improperly. Place a separate thermometer next to the thermostat and compare the readings after about 30 minutes. A difference of more than 2\u20133\u00b0F may indicate a problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor placement, such as direct sunlight, an exterior wall, or a drafty area, can also affect accuracy. Clean the thermostat gently, recalibrate it according to the manufacturer\u2019s instructions, or consider replacing an older unit with a heat-pump-compatible model.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tripped Circuit Breaker<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the electrical panel because the indoor and outdoor components commonly use separate breakers. If a breaker has tripped, reset it once by switching it fully off and then back on. If it trips again, leave it off and call a qualified technician. Repeated resets can indicate an electrical fault or compressor problem and may create a safety hazard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indoor Unit Power Switch<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the service switches near the air handler and outdoor unit. These can accidentally be turned off during cleaning, painting, or other work. Also check whether a condensate float switch has shut the system down because of a clogged drain or a backed-up drain pan. You can restore a mistakenly switched-off service switch yourself, but recurring float-switch shutdowns should be addressed rather than repeatedly bypassed.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dirty Air Filter<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clogged filter restricts airflow and can significantly reduce heating performance. If little light passes through the filter, replace it rather than trying to clean a disposable pleated filter. Weak airflow, long run times, and overheating can all result from restricted airflow. Check the filter monthly during heavy-use periods and replace it according to the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations, often every 1\u20133 months.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frozen Outdoor Unit<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some frost on the outdoor coil is normal during cold, damp weather, but heavy ice covering the coil or fan is not. If the unit is heavily iced, use Emergency Heat if your system has it and allow the outdoor unit to thaw.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep snow, leaves, and debris away from the unit, and never chip ice with a tool or pour boiling water over the coil. If ice quickly returns after defrosting, a defrost-control problem, airflow issue, refrigerant problem, or drainage issue may require professional diagnosis.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low Refrigerant Charge<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A heat pump with low refrigerant may produce insufficient heat, run continuously, develop ice, or show an unusually low temperature rise. Refrigerant is not consumed during normal operation, so a low charge generally indicates a leak. A qualified HVAC technician should locate and repair the leak before recharging the system.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bad Reversing Valve<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the heat pump cools normally in summer but fails to heat properly in winter, a faulty reversing valve is one possible cause. This valve changes the refrigerant direction so the system can switch between heating and cooling. A stuck valve or failed solenoid can prevent proper heating. Because repairing the valve requires specialized refrigerant work, this is a professional repair.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 Regular Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Heat Pump<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most no-heat emergencies are preventable. Follow these simple maintenance tips to protect your heat pumps and use them for a long time.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Change the Air Filter Every 1\u20133 Months<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clean filter keeps airflow strong and prevents the heat pump from working harder than necessary. A clogged filter can reduce heating and cooling performance, increase energy use, and contribute to overheating or system failures. Check the filter monthly and replace it sooner if you have pets, smoke indoors, or are renovating.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the Outdoor Unit Clear<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain roughly 24 inches of clearance around the outdoor unit and keep leaves, grass, snow, and other debris away from the coil. In snowy areas, make sure the unit is elevated above expected snow depth and protected from roof runoff. Never cover or tightly enclose the unit because it needs unrestricted airflow and proper drainage.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test Your Backup Heat Before Winter<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test the auxiliary or emergency heating system before the coldest weather arrives. A backup heat source that has failed or been disabled can leave you without adequate heating during a severe cold snap.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the Home Well Insulated<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air sealing and improving attic insulation reduce heat loss and help the heat pump maintain comfortable temperatures with less effort. Lower heating demand also reduces reliance on expensive backup heat and can improve overall system efficiency.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schedule Professional Maintenance Twice a Year<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have the system inspected in spring and fall because heat pumps operate throughout the year. A professional can check refrigerant levels, clean the coils, inspect electrical components, test defrost operation, and verify airflow. Finding a weak component early can prevent a more expensive breakdown later.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Repair Isn&#8217;t the Answer<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A heat pump that isn&#8217;t heating is rarely a mystery. Start by confirming it&#8217;s a genuine fault rather than normal behaviour: a heat pump&#8217;s air feels cool, defrost cycles interrupt heating for 5\u201315 minutes, and every system has a balance point below which it needs help. Then work through the process in order: thermostat settings, thermostat calibration, breakers, power switches, the air filter, the outdoor unit, refrigerant charge, and finally the reversing valve. The first five you can handle yourself; the last three belong to a licensed technician.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if the honest answer is that your system has never kept up on the coldest days, no repair will change that. That&#8217;s a design problem, undersized capacity, a system chosen for its mild-weather rating, or emitters that need hotter water than the equipment can produce. That&#8217;s where we can help you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcticheatpumps.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arctic Heat Pumps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has spent over 15 years engineering cold-climate air-to-water heat pumps for North American winters, tested in Winnipeg, where the weather doesn&#8217;t grade on a curve. Our EVI systems operate down to -35\u00b0C (-31\u00b0F) and handle whole-home heating, cooling, domestic hot water, and pool heating from a single outdoor unit, with built-in backup for the coldest days.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every Arctic system includes a free heat loss analysis and custom hydronic design from our engineering team: precise load calculation, a schematic drawn for your floor plan, and matched components so the system performs from day one. You don\u2019t have to believe our words, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcticheatpumps.com\/heat-load-design-service.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">request your free system design<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or run the numbers yourself with our free sizing tools. That\u2019s all for today. Hope your heating pump works, and call us anytime you need professional help. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-92320e4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"92320e4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ecf96f\" data-id=\"4ecf96f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e71216 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8e71216\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c57f374 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"c57f374\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2071\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2071\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why is my heat pump running but not heating?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2071\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2071\"><p>Usually airflow restriction (a dirty filter or blocked ducts), low refrigerant charge, or operation below the balance point where it can no longer meet the load. In air-to-water systems, low water flow is the leading cause. Measure the temperature rise across the indoor coil; under 15\u00b0F indicates a real fault rather than normal behaviour.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2072\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2072\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why is my heat pump blowing cold air?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2072\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2072\"><p>Four common reasons: the fan is set to &#8220;On&#8221; instead of &#8220;Auto&#8221; and is circulating room-temperature air between cycles; the thermostat is on Cool; the system is in its normal 5\u201315-minute defrost cycle; or the reversing valve has stuck in the cooling position. The first three cost nothing to fix.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2073\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2073\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How do I reset my heat pump?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2073\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2073\"><p>Turn the thermostat off, switch off the breakers for both the indoor and outdoor units, wait five minutes, restore power, then set the thermostat back to Heat. Photograph any fault code first. If the fault returns immediately, stop resetting and call a technician; repeated resets can damage the compressor.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2074\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2074\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How long should a heat pump defrost cycle last?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2074\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2074\"><p>Typically 5\u201315 minutes, occurring every 30\u201390 minutes when frost conditions exist. Steam rising from the outdoor unit during defrost is normal. Cycles that never end, repeat every 15 minutes, or leave ice behind indicate a defrost sensor, control board, or refrigerant problem.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2075\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2075\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do heat pumps really work in cold climates?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2075\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2075\"><p>Cold-climate models do. Conventional units lose most of their capacity below freezing, but cold-climate heat pumps using enhanced vapour injection (EVI) and inverter compressors maintain useful output well below 0\u00b0F, with some rated to -31\u00b0F (-35\u00b0C). What matters is correct sizing at your design temperature, a properly configured backup strategy, and emitters matched to heat pump water temperatures.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2076\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2076\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Is it normal for my heat pump to run constantly in winter?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2076\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2076\"><p>Yes, in cold weather. Modern inverter-driven heat pumps are designed to run long, low-output cycles rather than short bursts; that&#8217;s their efficient operating mode. Constant running in mild weather is the abnormal case, usually caused by a dirty filter, a dirty outdoor coil, low refrigerant, or a sizing mismatch.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2077\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2077\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">When should I call a professional instead of troubleshooting further?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2077\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2077\"><p>Immediately for grinding or screeching noises, a breaker that trips repeatedly, burning smells, ice that survives defrost, or any suspected refrigerant leak. Anything involving the sealed refrigerant circuit legally requires a certified technician.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thinking about why is my heat pump not heating? A heat pump that isn&#8217;t heating usually comes down to one of a short list of causes: a thermostat set wrong or out of calibration, a dirty air filter choking airflow, a frozen outdoor unit, a tripped breaker or an off power switch, a low refrigerant [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2868,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[324],"tags":[392],"class_list":["post-2858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air-to-water-heat-pumps","tag-heat-pump-not-heating"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Is My Heat Pump Not Heating? Causes and Fixes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why is my heat pump not heating? Usually the thermostat, a dirty filter, a frozen coil, or low refrigerant. Fix five yourself in under ten minutes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arcticheatpumps.com\/blog\/why-is-my-heat-pump-not-heating.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Is My Heat Pump Not Heating? Causes and Fixes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why is my heat pump not heating? Usually the thermostat, a dirty filter, a frozen coil, or low refrigerant. 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