A Goodman heat pump that does not turn on when needed can cause homeowners to panic as they ponder what to do next. We have done thorough research to show you what you can do to salvage the situation.
If your Goodman heat pump will not turn on, you must check if any of these conditions exist:
- The thermostat has stopped working.
- The start capacitor has malfunctioned.
- There's a loss of power.
- The reversing valve is broken.
Continue reading to find out why your Goodman heat pump will not start. We'll also discuss how to troubleshoot and repair it back to good working condition.
Why Does My Heat Pump Not Turning On And How To Trouble Shoot?
Despair can set in when your heat pump does not turn on, especially if this is the only heating and cooling equipment you are relying on.
Let’s go through some of the causes of your heat pump not turning on and how to solve them:
The Thermostat Has Stopped Working
Check the thermostat for any malfunction before you check the outdoor unit. It could have been set incorrectly. This is when you adjust it to cool when it should be hot, or vice versa. If this is the case, set it back correctly to the desired temperature.
Also, if your thermostat is in emergency mode, it may shut down most of the operations of your heat pump. This can be solved by resetting your heat pump.
But if the setting is not the issue, you may have to call a professional to check the installation for any problems, some of which include:
- The thermostat is incompatible with your heat pump.
- If your thermostat is not wired correctly, it could get fried and cause the unit not to function.
- The thermostat is not transmitting signals to your heat pump.
The Start Capacitor Has Malfunctioned
Ordinarily, a heat pump will have two kinds of capacitors. One is the start capacitor, a component that transmits electricity to charge your motor to start. The other one is a run capacitor, which transmits electric power to the motor for continuous running of the pump.
If you hear a clicking sound when you are trying to turn on the start capacitor, then most likely it is not working well. Likewise, the run capacitor can also malfunction so that the motor stops working.
There are many reasons why a capacitor will not work, but the most common are lightning strikes.
A professional technician has to be called in to fix this problem.
Check out this start capacitor on Amazon.
There's A Loss Of Power
Your heat pump can trip your circuit breaker and so you need to check the fuse box to find out if this is the problem.
When your heat pump trips the circuit breakers many times, then it could be due to an electrical fault that needs to be fixed.
Other reasons your heat pump will trip the circuit are the following:
- Dirty air filter: airflow is restricted into the duct system when the air filter is dirty. This causes the blower to trip the breaker as it is forced to work harder. Check your filter at least once a month and change it if necessary.
- The outside unit is dirty: A dirty unit will work harder to condition your home causing the circuit breaker to trip.
- Worn-out or weak compressors: This is the part that pumps the refrigerant throughout the system of your heat pump. When it is weak, the breaker will trip.
- Loose wiring: The changing weather conditions that take place throughout the year cause the wires to expand and contract, eventually becoming loose, leading to a short circuit.
Have a look at this heat pump compressor on Amazon.
The Reversing Valve Is Broken
The reversing valve changes the direction of the refrigerant in the heat pump so that it can function as an air conditioner or heater.
So, for example, if you want your heat pump to heat your home but instead cools it, then there could be a fault in the reversing valve and may need to be replaced.
Check out this Goodman reversing valve on Amazon.
How Do You Reset A Goodman Heat Pump?
Another way to troubleshoot your Goodman heat pump is by resetting it. First, you need to know where the reset button is located in your heat pump.
It’s usually a tiny red rubber button that is in the outdoor unit, near the tubing welded onto the heat pump system, evidently captioned as a “reset button”.
Follow these steps below when resetting your heat pump:
- Check for the circuit breaker inside your electrical service panel that conforms to your Goodman heat pump system.
- To ensure your safety, unplug the unit from the power supply.
- Turn the circuit breaker off and wait for around 20 minutes.
- Plug back and switch back on the circuit breaker and then reset the heat pump.
If you cannot find the reset button outside of your unit, then look for it inside. With a small stick or screwdriver, spin the fan to look for it.
Remember it’s not safe sticking things inside the unit; therefore unplug the pump from the electrical outlet. Once you spot it, push the reset button to re-start your pump.
If after resetting, your heat pump trips the circuit breaker, it could be a sign that something is wrong. This could be due to loosely connected wires that could be uncovered.
And if this happens repeatedly, then it may be time to call in an expert to find out the root cause of the problem.
What Do You Do If Your Reset Button Does Not Work?
What's next after your reset button fails to work? This could be due to power loss, or the system in your pump has failed.
If your compressor starts but you do not hear the fan moving, then there could be a problem with the motor, or the capacitor is not working.
At this point, you need to call in a technician who may discover that your reset button is not working because one or more of the coils is packed with stuff or no air is getting through because the filters are dirty.
Remember, your heat pump needs lots of airflows to work properly and coils that are filled with stuff will lead to your system not working.
How Do You Reset A Goodman Heat Pump Manually?
Some Goodman heat pumps do not have reset buttons. In this case, you will have to reset it manually by following these steps:
- Look for the power shut-off, which is near the outdoor compressor unit, and flip it off.
- Next, check the electrical panel that is inside your home and switch off the circuit breaker.
- To make sure all power is turned off from your unit, unplug it from the power supply.
- Let the unit remain switched off and unplugged for 15 to 30 minutes, and then plug back and switch on the power supply.
- Turn back on the circuit and also turn on the power shut-off that is near the compressor.
In Closing
A heat pump is a valuable piece of equipment in our homes because it not only provides warmth during winter and cool air during summer, but you can save a lot of energy and subsequently your energy bills.
Sometimes, though, it can malfunction and not turn on when you need to condition your home. There are various reasons why it will not start, but there are ways to troubleshoot, one of the fastest methods being to reset the heat pump.
However, the reset button can fail to start, but also there are ways in which you can troubleshoot and solve this issue. When all else has failed, call in a technician who will get to the bottom of the problem.
Check out our previous posts on heat pumps losing their efficiency as they age and the type of thermostat required for your heat pump:
Is Heat Pump Thermostat Needed?
Do Heat Pumps Lose Efficiency With Age?