We recently got a comment from someone on our Youtube channel saying that they didn’t know what was wrong, but their heat would not turn off.
In his question he stated the modes of his thermostat which told us he had a heat pump.
The reason he thought there was a problem was because it would run all the time, and the air felt cool. However, the temperature in his home was the same as his thermostat setting. In other words, his home was not cold, it was maintaining the temperature he desired.
Without being there to diagnose any issue, it sounds like the heat pump is doing what is is supposed to do. The heat pump, especially in the winter, does not blow what feels like “hot” air. It might feel like there is cool air coming from vents. It heats your home with warm air that may feel cool since your body temperature is around 98.6 degrees.
Sometimes I feel cold air coming from my heat pump in the winter
In the winter, your heat pump will run a “defrost mode” every 60-90 minutes. It is asking itself if there is frost on the outdoor unit. In order to defrost, it will run in the air conditioner mode for a few moments. You will feel cold air, (probably enough to get your attention!) coming from the registers. After it is done defrosting, it will run in heat mode again (although that air could feel cool). It is at least warmer than the temperature you want your house to be so it is fully capable to heat your home.
This is an efficient way to heat a home especially with high gas prices. If you prefer the warmer heat feeling from you registers, that will be delivered by your gas furnace. Keep in mind that when it is extremely cold outside, it is likely that your heat pump does not turn off. It is working hard to heat your home!
If you feel like your gas furnace is having a problem, you may find this article helpful: My Furnace Is NOT Working! What to Check BEFORE Calling For Furnace Repair