Ductless heating and cooling systems last a long time. They’re known for their reliability — oftentimes providing efficient heating and cooling for a couple of decades. That said, it’s not uncommon for an occasional problem to arise from time to time. If you have a ductless heating and cooling system, it can be hard to know when it’s time to call for a ductless system repair. Here are the signs your mini-split isn’t performing at its best.
What are some signals that my ductless system isn’t working correctly?
Here are the main clues that show your ductless heating system is not working:
- There are visible leaks coming from your system
- You see built-up ice on the outdoor unit, not resolved by the Defrost Cycle
- There’s a sudden lack of efficiency
- You have higher utility bills
- You start to hear unusual sounds
- You notice a lack of heat
- The outdoor unit doesn’t work or doesn’t seem to be functioning properly
- The indoor unit fails to run or blows air that isn’t properly conditioned
If you are experiencing any of these issues, it may be time to call an Alpine Ductless technician to discover the issue and solve it quickly.
Is there ductless heat pump troubleshooting I can try on my own?
Yes! Try these ductless heat pump troubleshooting steps to see if it fixes the problem:
- Check the filters: If your filters are dirty, they will interfere with proper airflow reducing the refrigerant.
- Check your handheld remote setting: Sometimes your remote can get out of whack. To reset it, adjust the temperature up and back down again. Your handheld wireless remote has to be pointed at the head and it will blink and beep with adjustments. Last but not least, if these things don’t seem to be working, try replacing the batteries, making sure to put them in properly. If this doesn’t work, it’s not the remote!
- Test your wall mount controllers: Do the same test on your wall controller to make sure the unit responds as you make adjustments. If not, you might need a reboot.
- Do a hard reboot: It could be that your indoor and outdoor units are out of whack. To see if you can reset everything, turn the entire system off with the remote and then turn the system off at the breakers to your heat pump. Give it at least five minutes and then turn everything back on. Your heat pump will restart in default mode, so you’ll need to reset everything on your remote or thermostat. Be patient as it can take up to 10 minutes to restart.
- Conduct a multi-zone reboot: For systems with more than one unit, only turn one unit back on after you do a hard reboot. Wait until it starts producing heat or cooling, then move on to the next unit. Leave it on until it produces heat or cooling before turning on the next and so on.
- Look for any blinking lights: If your indoor unit’s lights are blinking it is an error code. Watch for a 2-second pause and count the number of blinks between pauses so you can call us to correct it.
How can I avoid having to repair my unit?
Properly cleaning and maintaining your unit is the best way to prevent issues from arising down the road. It’s best to complete routine inspections to ensure your mini-split is working at full efficiency, and to know when to contact a professional for assistance. Here’s a maintenance checklist for you to complete and ensure your system runs as efficiently as it can.
Delaying maintenance and repair of your ductless system can cost more in the long run. If these common troubleshooting solutions did not restore your ductless heating and cooling system, please give us a call at 360-615-2229 or schedule a maintenance call with Alpine Ductless.
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