The heart of the Heat Pump is the Compressor. The compressor is what "compresses" the refrigerant vapor into liquid facilitating the refrigeration process in the summer and the heating process in your home in the winter. If this component begins to wear out there are some warning signs that a technician can detect in order to inform you of your heating and air system's condition.
Couple of the things you as a homeowner might notice would be the compressor being louder than normal during startup or normal operation, higher summer utility bills than previous summers.
One of the best tools a technician can have in his toolbag is a good megohmeter. This device will tell the condition of the compressor's windings. The windings in a compressor are similar to most electrical motors: wire wrapped or wound around metal. The plastic/rubber coating around these wires will melt if your compressor is overheating and will mix in with the refrigerant, which is the beginning of the end for your outdoor unit. Detecting a failing compressor early can help avoid a hot summer getting worse by being without AC for a few days or even weeks when you need it most.
Contact your local heating and air tech for routine service on your heat pump and ask if he can check the condition of your system's windings.
If you live in the Sacramento, California area, you may contact me by replying to this post or by calling: 916-751-6060
Take Care,
The HVAC Tech
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