The headline might make it sound as if we aren’t in favor of using ductless mini split systems (a.k.a. ductless heat pumps) for home heating and cooling. But we are! We think ductless heat pumps are one of the best solutions for home comfort around, especially for older homes or smaller homes without room for ductwork. Ductless mini split systems are convenient, easy and fast for professionals to install, improve indoor air quality, and have excellent energy efficiency.
But, like any HVAC system, ductless mini splits may need to be repaired at some point. They don’t suffer from the duct-related problems that can plague standard heat pumps and air conditioners, but there are a few specific repair issues they can suffer from. We’re going to go over a few of the ductless heat pump problems you encounter.
Failed indoor air handler
This is both a problem and an example of why ductless mini splits are beneficial. A ductless heat pump sends conditioned air directly into the living space through wall-mounted air handlers placed in different rooms around the house. One of these units can fail because of a broken motor, leading to a room that isn’t being cooled (or heated). However, the failure of a single indoor unit doesn’t affect the other units, so the rest of your home will remain cool while you arrange to have the broken air handler repaired.
(Tip: If you notice an air handler won’t turn on, first check its remote to see if the batteries have worn down.)
Leaks behind air handlers
Each of the air handlers connects to the single outdoor unit with a refrigerant, power, and condensate line. These lines pass through a hole in the wall behind the air handler. If a leak starts in the condensate line, water will begin to build up between the unit and the wall. This not only leads to damage to the wall and an opportunity for mold and mildew to develop, but it can also weaken the wall enough that the air handler will tear away from the wall and fall off. If you see any water stains behind the air handler or see water dripping from it, call for technicians to repair the system.
Loss of refrigerant
Refrigerant leaks are a major problem that can affect heat pumps of all types. If the leaks aren’t repaired and the refrigerant recharged, it will eventually cause a catastrophic breakdown in the compressor—which usually means having to replace the entire outdoor unit. Ductless systems have a higher chance of refrigerant leaks than standard split system heat pumps because they have more refrigerant lines with greater outdoor exposure. Watch for any sign of refrigerant loss, such as ice appearing along the coil of an air handler or all the air handlers losing cooling power, and then call for repair assistance immediately. Don’t run any part of the system until you’ve had HVAC technicians inspect it.
No matter what seems wrong with your ductless mini split, you can call for air conditioning repair in Tampa, FL from our team.
Balanced Air, Inc. has served the Tampa Bay Area since 1988. Call us 24/7 for AC repairs.
