Help! My Heat Pump is Blowing Cold Air in “Heat” Mode!

Before we help you diagnose the problem, let’s make sure there is actually a problem.

This might sound crazy, but a heat pump can be working just fine even if the air feels cold. Let us explain…

The air could be warm but still feel cool

Heat pumps usually produce air that is 85-92°F. This is plenty warm to heat your home to your desired 72°F.

But, the air coming out of the vents can feel cold for a couple reasons:

1. Gas furnaces produce air that is 130-140°F range. So 85-92°F feels cold to new heat pump owners.
2. Your body temperature is around 98.6°F (everyone’s body temperature is slightly different, but that’s the average). Since heat pumps produce air that’s below that, it can feel cold to you.
   

Related: Heat Pump vs. Air Conditioner and Gas Furnace, Which is Better?

How to tell if there’s really a problem

Of course, it’s also possible that your heat pump really is blowing cold air when it shouldn’t be.

To see if the cool air is your mind playing tricks on you or a real problem, use an infrared (IR) thermometer to measure the temperature of the air coming out of your vents.

If you don’t have an IR thermometer, simply watch your thermostat. The temperature in your home should rise gradually until reaching your desired setting. And then your heat pump should shut off.

As long as that’s happening, everything’s hunky-dory.

What to do if your heat pump is blowing cold air

There are a few reasons your heat pump could be blowing cold air. To solve the problem, try these 2 things:

• Turn off the heat at the thermostat and check your air filter. If it’s dirty, change it!
• Make sure the thermostat is set to “AUTO”, not “ON”. When set to “ON” the fan will stay on even when your heat pump isn’t actually heating. This could make it feel like cool air is coming out of your vents.
  

If you’ve checked these things and are still having issues, you likely need a professional heating repair company to diagnose the problem.

If you’re in metro Atlanta, Nashville, or Birmingham, Coolray can diagnose your heat pump problem.