Steam vs. Smoke: Why Your Heat Pump Looks Like It’s on Fire

When you suddenly notice a heat pump smoking on a cold day, it’s enough to inspire a sense of panic. However, your heat pump’s defrost mode could be responsible for this behavior. In most cases, sudden steam is simply a sign of the heat pump’s normal operation.

If you notice other symptoms or are concerned about a nonstop defrost mode, don’t wait for a major breakdown to occur. Reach out to Alpha Heating & Air for professional heat pump repairs and troubleshooting.

The Panic Moment: Seeing White Plumes from Your Outdoor Unit

On a chilly, damp morning in Bandon, you don’t want to suddenly look outside your window to see that your heat pump is on fire. Rather than reach for the phone to call the fire department, take a deep breath. In most cases, an outdoor unit’s steaming simply means that the defrost mode is going. After the defrost cycle has run, the heat pump should automatically switch back to heating your home.

How Heat Pumps Work in Bandon’s Climate

In the Pacific Northwest, we have moist air and a lot of humidity. When the outdoor coil falls below freezing temperatures, the moisture can turn into frost and ice on your outdoor coil. Once this occurs, your heat pump will be unable to transfer heat effectively.

Fortunately, modern heat pumps are designed with an easy fix. Once ice starts to build up, the heat pump starts its defrost mode and reverses direction. As it does so, the coils warm up so that the ice melts off.

What Is Defrost Mode?

When the heat pump’s defrost mode is on, it is transferring heat from inside your home to the outside. This allows it to quickly warm up the outdoor coils and melt the ice. Once it reaches a certain temperature, the melted ice transforms into a cloud of water vapor.

Besides the water vapor, you may hear a whooshing sound from the reversing valve. Afterward, you may also realize that the outdoor fan noises have stopped. If you are indoors when this happens, you may notice that your vents aren’t blowing warm air while the defrost mode is operating.

How to Tell the Difference Between Steam and Smoke

Before you start searching for heating and air conditioning repair near you, take a moment to inspect the problem on your heat pump. There are a few ways to tell if your defrost mode is operating or if there is a major issue.

• Smell Test: First, take a sniff of the steam. If it is genuinely steam, it will be odorless. Smoke will smell acrid, like burning plastic.
• Dissipation: Smoke will often linger and appear dark or gray. Meanwhile, steam generally dissipates into the air quickly.
• Duration: A steam cycle normally runs for 15 minutes at the most. If you notice your unit smoking for longer than this, you should reach out for help right away.

Troubleshooting: When Defrost Mode Isn’t Working Right

If your heat pump has turned into a block of ice, it will struggle to warm up enough. This will typically happen because of bad sensors, a faulty reversing valve, or low refrigerant. Unfortunately, all of these problems need to be addressed by an expert, so it’s time to start looking for emergency AC repair near you.

Need heat pump maintenance and troubleshooting help? Give Alpha Heating & Air a call today.

Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Heat Pump

To keep your heat pump functioning at its best, remember the following important tips.

• Enhance Airflow: Remove snow drifts and leaves from around the heat pump unit so that it can easily breathe.
• Ensure Elevation: Make sure the heat pump is elevated so that the melted ice drains away from it and doesn’t freeze around the heat pump’s base.
• Review Gutters: You should make sure that the roof gutters are not directly dripping onto the unit because this could negatively impact the heat pump’s ice load.

Frequently Asked Questions: Heat Pump Noises and Steam

Before scheduling a residential AC repair, learn more about unusual heat pump noises and steam-related topics.

Why is my heat pump making a loud swooshing noise?

If you hear your heat pump make a loud swooshing noise in the winter, it is because the reversing valve is engaging. This happens when the heat pump’s defrost mode kicks on to melt away ice buildup.

Why is cool air coming out of my vents?

You may notice cool air coming out of your vents when the unit is switching back from defrost mode. Unless an auxiliary heat strip kicks in, the unit may take a little while to heat the air again.

How often should it defrost?

The timeline can really vary based on the humidity level in Bandon. Often, defrost mode will kick on every 30 to 90 minutes in the winter.

Still Worried? Give Alpha Heating & Air a Call

Searching for heat and air conditioning repair near you? We can help. At Alpha Heating & Air, we can troubleshoot common heat pump issues and help you determine if something major is wrong with your unit. If your heat pump’s defrost mode isn’t working, we can help you determine the best heat pump repair and replacement options for your needs.

Learn more by reaching out to our HVAC experts today.