Summer
Heat moves out.
From indoor air toward the outdoor unit
The indoor coil absorbs heat while the outdoor equipment releases it. Airflow and refrigerant operation both matter.
Heat pumps
Heating and cooling in two directions.
A heat pump moves heat out of the home in summer and into the home in winter.
Heating mode • Cooling mode
Same refrigerant system
Winter
Heat moves in.
From outdoor air toward the indoor system
The cycle reverses. Controls, defrost operation, auxiliary heat and airflow affect cold-weather performance.
Common service concerns
One system can show symptoms in either season.
01
Weak heating
Cool-feeling supply air, long runtimes or reliance on auxiliary heat.
02
Weak cooling
Warm rooms, reduced capacity, ice or drainage concerns.
03
Mode change
Thermostat, reversing operation and control communication.
04
Outdoor operation
Noise, defrost behavior, electrical response or no operation.
Heat-pump evaluation
Follow the operating sequence.
System-specific checks vary
A useful evaluation connects thermostat demand, airflow, indoor and outdoor operation, temperatures and refrigerant readings where appropriate.
ControlsMode and thermostat demandReviewed
AirflowFilter, blower and deliveryChecked
OutdoorCoil, fan and defrost behaviorObserved
Backup heatAuxiliary operation where applicableEvaluated
Heat-pump concern?
Tell us which mode is falling behind.
Share whether the issue appears during heating, cooling or both.