Some people live in regions with mild winters. For these individuals, heat pumps are a luxury. But for others, heat pumps are a survival tool. You risk freezing to death if your home doesn’t have one. This is why proper maintenance is essential. You don’t want the heat pump to fail at the most inopportune moment. But what happens when your heat pump is properly maintained, yet the light is flashing? Should you worry? Is the flashing light a cause for concern?
Why Is My Heat Pump Light Flashing?
Electronic Glitch
Modern heat pumps are sophisticated devices with a multitude of advanced features. As a result, they are susceptible to various electronic glitches. Resetting a heating system with a flashing light will solve the problem, especially if you wait several seconds before switching the pump on.
A flashing light that refuses to disappear even after resetting the heat pump should concern you.
Outdoor Unit Locked Out
The emergency heat light also flashes if the outdoor unit has developed a malfunction. The outdoor unit will use the thermostat’s flashing light to let you know that a problem has occurred.
The indoor unit will continue to run. However, it won’t satisfy your needs because the outdoor unit has stopped working.
If you have a York Stellar series, the number of flashes will help you diagnose the problem.
For instance, two flashes signify high pressure. High discharge temperature produces three flashes. With a low discharge temperature, you should see four flashes. This only applies to the York Stellar Series. Check your brand’s manual to determine the meaning behind the number of flashes.
Defective Battery
If your heat pump includes an indoor and outdoor unit, you won’t realize that things have gone wrong until the thermostat starts flashing. However, you shouldn’t be so quick to blame flashing lights on the indoor or outdoor unit.
The heat pump light also flashes whenever it develops battery problems. Either the battery is defective, or it is low on charge.
This is why laypeople are better off consulting professionals. You can troubleshoot a flashing heat pump light if you have some experience in the field. But it won’t occur to the average homeowner to check the thermostat’s batteries.
They are more likely to disassemble the outdoor unit in search of a problem that doesn’t exist. A professional will start with the thermostat because they realize that some flashing lights are harmless.
Loose Wiring
Check the wiring. Loose wiring can compel the heat pump to draw abnormal quantities of electricity, which can trigger a blinking light, alerting the homeowner of the malfunction. On occasion, the technician who installed the unit is at fault. Improper installation can result in malfunctions.
Fortunately, modern heat pumps are smart enough to warn consumers when things go wrong. Don’t ignore the flashing light. Ask an expert to diagnose the heating system.
Defrost Mode
According to EES, heat pumps will automatically engage the defrost mode during the coldest seasons of the year. When this happens, the power light will flash. The flashing light is not a cause for concern in such a case.
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Heat Pump Flashing Light Meaning
Heat Pump Flashing Green Light – Why?
Fujitsu manual suggests that a flashing green timer LED indicates a fault.
The interpretation of a flashing green light will vary with each model. Check the manual to determine what your green light means.
This concord pacific page believes that green lights are good because they show that the heat pump is operating correctly. But they don’t say anything about flashing green lights. Their instructions are connected to a solid green light.
Heat Pump Flashing Red Light – Why?
A flashing red light shows that the outdoor unit has stopped working. The red light on the thermostat will flash to let you know that the heat pump has a problem. The indoor unit will continue to work. However, it won’t heat your home because the outdoor unit has stopped working.
The red light will blink when the outdoor unit shuts off.
Heat Pump Flashing Yellow Light – Why?
Flashing yellow lights can have many potential causes, including a faulty sensor cable, defective temperature sensor, electronic glitch, etc.
The yellow light will disappear if you restart the system.
Once again, you have to consult your manual. Manufacturers do not follow a specific standard when they program their LEDs. They can engineer the yellow lights to flash for any reason that suits them.
Let the manufacturer tell you what the flashing yellow light means.
Heat Pump Flashing Blue Light – Why?
Blue light flashes on days where the exterior temperatures have fallen below 35 degrees. The heat pump will struggle to generate the heat required to keep your home warm. The blue light shows that the backup heat is on.
The blue light should only concern you if it keeps activating on days when temperatures are higher than 40 degrees. In such situations, you should blame the flashing LED on a malfunction.
Heat Pump Light Flashing 3, 4, 5 Times – Meaning
- 3 flashes could signify an air pressure, high-temperature discharge, or fan motor issue.
- Four flashes signify you have an outdoor unit issue such as a grounded compressor or lack of a suitable power supply. It could also mean low discharge temperature.
- A heat pump can flash five times because it is low on freon. Additional causes include a faulty indoor pipe sensor, faulty wiring, improper installation, etc.
Don’t expect these codes and their interpretations to apply to your heat pump. Your heat pump has unique codes. Don’t expect those codes to mean the same thing in every model. Consult the manual to get further clarification.
How To Fix The Flashing Heat Pump Light?
- Reset the thermostat. You can do this by turning the device off and waiting thirty seconds. When you switch it on again, the flashing lights should disappear. If the outdoor unit has refused to work, give it time. Wait ten or so minutes. If you had a glitch, the outdoor unit should eventually start once you reset the system.
- If the thermostat has a faulty battery, change the battery. If you have a rechargeable battery, charge it.
- If resetting the unit has not worked, check the circuit breaker. If the breaker was tripped, reset it. You can also try switching the power off and on at the breaker.
- If the red light is flashing, Fujitsu suggests turning the isolation switch off and then switching it on after five minutes to reset the unit.
- Use the manual before you proceed. Count the number of flashes and see what the manual says about their meaning. You can use the manufacturer’s instructions to troubleshoot the problem. Use the idea of switching the thermostat and pump off and on.
- Make sure the heat pump has access to a power source. Some people have furnaces that don’t have power even though their breakers have not tripped. Your best bet is to contact a professional. This applies to conventional heat pumps.
- You need an expert to check the circuit boards. They can identify apparent sources of trouble such as moisture, dirt, burn marks, and the like. An expert can also check the wiring, resolving loose connections where necessary.
Regardless of the cause of the blinking light, everyone agrees that you need professional help. Call their service department if the blinking light persists even after you reset the heat pump.
Call the experts to diagnose your system in person to identify the fault. If you have a warranty, you should use it. If you tamper with the heat pump, you may void the warranty.
Does The Flash Light Meaning Change With Different Brands Like Daikin, Toshiba, Panasonic?
Different models have different error codes. For instance, Toshiba units have distinct codes for incorrect remote controller settings, outdoor unit serial communication errors, and duplicated indoor addresses, to mention but a few.
On the other hand, Arlington Aircon Services have revealed different error codes for factors such as obstructed fans and defective coil sensors. This is why manufacturers provide manuals. They recognize that rival models use different diagnostic LEDs.
They know that you cannot rely on instructions from different brands to interpret the error codes on every heating and cooling unit on the market. They expect consumers to use the information in their manuals to diagnose units that malfunction.
If you don’t have a manual, visit the website. Better yet, take the unit back to the manufacturer. Depending on your warranty, they will either fix the problem or provide you with a replacement.
Don’t tamper with the heat pump unless you know what you are doing. Not only is the appliance dangerous, but you could void your warranty.
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