All of a sudden, you find yourself in a bit of a pickle. You’ve called the same reliable technician to repair your furnace for years. Then it hits you, your furnace got replaced by a heat pump very recently. Can that trustworthy technician fix your heat pump when it runs into problems? Or are you going to need to search for someone else?
There are a few guidelines we can help you with when dealing with how tough it might feel to switch from one HVAC technician to another. Unfortunately, an older furnace technician might not have the tools or experience to handle a heat pump repair, depending on a few factors.
One silver lining is that you’ve got a team nearby that can service any heating system in the area, and that’s us! We do reliable heating repairs in Hopkinton, MA regardless of whether they’re for a heat pump, furnace, or another heating system. Our licenses and certifications give us the necessary training and equipment to handle these issues quickly and reliably.
Heat Pumps Require Specialized Training
Before you just assume that your old furnace technician could just switch gears to repair your heat pump, you’ll need to evaluate just how different these systems are.
Furnaces generate heat by burning natural gas or using an electrical coil. This uses energy or fuel to create heat, which is not what a heat pump does. Heat pumps use electricity and refrigerant to move heat from one location to another, essentially acting as a funnel to push heat from the air outside to the air inside.
This means that problems inside a furnace could be incredibly different from the problems exhibited by a heat pump, and they might be considered different categories from a professional standpoint.
It’s safe to assume that, unless otherwise specified, your furnace contractor can’t automatically fix a heat pump.
The Similarities to Air Conditioning
However, there is a caveat to what we just said. Heat pumps are similar to air conditioning systems which also use refrigerant and electricity to move heat. If your reliable licensed professional is used to working on all sorts of air conditioners, then he might have the necessary equipment and training to work on a heat pump.
When in doubt, always ask them beforehand if they’ve had any experience with heat pumps. A general “no” or “not really” should give you the answer you’re looking for.
What About Ductless Systems
Don’t forget about ductless systems! Ductless units are heat pumps and they require even more specialized training from professionals than a regular heat pump. These units are smaller and function via air handlers, which can be more precise and difficult to repair than a centralized heat pump. This is not a job for a newbie.
You Can Always Count on Us
Don’t worry, even if your old furnace technician can’t fix the refrigerant leak or other issue with your heat pump, we can. Just call our hotline and let us know what the problem is!
Contact Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric, we take comfort in YOUR comfort.