New Ductless Heat Pumps Normal Stuff

I want to explain something we’re seeing more often with today’s heat pumps.

The technology has changed dramatically. These are no longer the old “square box” outdoor units many of us grew up with.

Take the newer Goodman horizontal discharge heat pumps as an example. Even when your thermostat is OFF and there is no call for heating or cooling, you may occasionally notice the outdoor fan come on for a short period of time.

Many homeowners think something is wrong, but in most cases this is completely normal.

Think about your home computer. Have you ever heard the cooling fan turn on even when you’re not actively using it? Modern heat pumps work in a very similar way. They contain inverter boards, sensors, processors, and electronics that remain energized and communicate with the system.

These electronic components create a small amount of heat simply by being powered on. To protect those components, the outdoor unit may briefly run the fan to cool the inverter board and heat sinks. This helps keep the electronics operating within their designed temperature range.

Some manufacturers also program their units to occasionally spin the outdoor fan in reverse. This can help clear away light debris such as cottonwood fuzz, dust, grass clippings, or leaves that may collect on the outdoor coil.

Just because you hear a fan running does not automatically mean your system is heating or cooling. Often, the unit is simply performing a self-protection or maintenance function.

The best way to describe today’s heat pumps is that they are computers that happen to heat and cool your home.

As technology continues to improve efficiency and comfort, some operating sounds and behaviors may seem unusual compared to older equipment. In many cases, these functions are normal and are helping extend the life of your system.

If you’re ever concerned about what your heat pump is doing, give HeatGuy LLC a call. We’d rather answer a question than have you worry about your equipment.