Today the most efficient way to bring personalized comfort to your home is ductless and ducted heat pumps typically called mini splits which are becoming increasingly popular across the USA because of the sheer number of benefits. With benefits also come drawbacks, some of which are error codes, or operation modes that can be confusing to operate or how sometimes normal operation of mini split units can be confused as abnormal if you are unaware of the type of heating and cooling these units provide. Mini Splits can take some getting used to, here are some of the common problems we see customers run into that can be corrected sometimes by the homeowner and sometimes by a call to a licensed professional like MetroWest MiniSplits to ensure your heat pumps are operating correctly and efficiently.
ELECTRICITY - Heat Pump units are powered by electricity and like any electronic device it is prone to occasional electrical related problems. Easy solutions such as a tripped breaker at the panel, or at your home’s main fuse which might protect the expensive electronic components in your home such as your TV, refrdigerator and other electronic items including your mini splits.
ERROR CODES - Other problems other than electrical issues might include blinking lights. Sometimes blinking lights can be a normal part of operation such as in the defrost mode. Other times it is helpful to reference your owner’s manual, certain error codes can be reset by resetting the condensing unit. Other will need the assistance of a trained technician. A typical error code for a Fujitsu mini split would be something like a 10-1 which might indicate a series of problems but the most common seems to be low refrigerant, which usually is an easy fix.
NO COOLING – Keep in mind that mini splits can be used for both heating and cooling. The typical problem with a customer calling with no cooling turns out that the unit is either in the wrong mode, or it is not in sync with the remote, other times it might be in mis-matched mode with the condensing unit. Some condensing units with multiple indoor mini splits attached need to have all the attached units be in the same mode, either in heating or cooling but not both at the same time. To ensure your unit is in-sync with the remote in your hand, ensure you are pointing the remote directly at the indoor unit, and listen for an audible indication and on most units a visual indication with the light blinking to let you know the unit has taken the command you have just entered on the remote.
NO HEATING – Minisplits work for heating as well as cooling and some customers are taking advantage of the new rebates and covering their whole home with heat pumps which are more efficient than fossil fuels. Heating mode might not be working correctly if your unit is flashing an error, the outdoor condensing unit might need to be reset. Possibly your indoor unit and the remote control have become out of sync, to re-sync your remote raise the heat all the way to the max, typically 88 degrees, listen carefully for the audible tone that enables you to determine the unit has taken your command. When your heat pump is not producing heat, and it’s the winter time, this might be your only source of heating available in your home, if this is the case, please call us as we provide service on heat pump mini splits even if we did not install the unit.