Heat Pump Not Cooling in Greater Vancouver

Greater Vancouver summers are mild, but when heat pumps fail to cool during hot stretches, the cause is usually a refrigerant, airflow, or control issue that a technician can quickly address.

What This Means

Heat pumps cool the home by extracting heat from indoor air and rejecting it outdoors. Cooling failure means this transfer is not happening effectively — due to refrigerant loss, compressor fault, airflow restriction, or a reversing valve stuck in heating mode.

Common Causes

• Refrigerant low — insufficient refrigerant prevents adequate heat absorption from indoor air
• Condenser coil (outdoor unit) dirty — heat cannot be rejected outdoors efficiently
• Filter severely restricted — indoor airflow too low for heat removal
• Reversing valve stuck in heating mode — heat pump provides heating instead of cooling
• Compressor failure — no refrigerant circulation
• Outdoor unit blocked by vegetation or debris reducing airflow

What Homeowners Can Check Safely

• Check and replace indoor air filter
• Clear any vegetation, debris, or obstruction within 60 cm of the outdoor unit
• Confirm thermostat is set to COOL and the setpoint is below room temperature
• Check that the outdoor unit fan is running when cooling is called for

When to Call a Licensed Technician

Heat pumps contain refrigerant under pressure, electrical components at line voltage, and control systems that require specialized diagnostic tools. Do not open refrigerant circuits, bypass safety switches, or attempt to recharge refrigerant without proper certification.

• Refrigerant pressure testing and recharge
• Condenser coil cleaning
• Reversing valve testing and replacement
• Compressor electrical and mechanical testing
• Capacitor testing — a failed capacitor prevents compressor or fan motor starting

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my heat pump blowing warm air in cooling mode?

Warm air during cooling mode suggests the refrigerant circuit is not removing heat from indoor air. Most common causes are low refrigerant (from a leak), a stuck reversing valve, or a failed compressor. Low refrigerant is the most common single cause — it requires a licensed technician to test and recharge.

My outdoor unit runs but the house does not cool. Is that a refrigerant problem?

An outdoor unit that runs but provides no cooling often indicates low refrigerant or a compressor that is running but not pumping adequately. The distinction requires a refrigerant pressure test. A technician can identify within minutes whether the system has adequate refrigerant charge.

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