Heat pump repair in Danville
Heat pumps heat and cool with the same outdoor unit, moving heat into the house in winter and out of it in summer. They work well in Southside Virginia's climate, but they behave differently from a furnace, and some things that look like problems are normal.
Normal vs. not normal
Usually normal:
- Air feels lukewarm, not hot. Heat pump air is often cooler to the touch than furnace air, even when it's heating the house properly.
- Long run times on cold days. Heat pumps often run steadily instead of cycling on and off.
- A light frost on the outdoor coil that clears on its own.
- Steam and a "whoosh" from the outdoor unit for a few minutes. That's the defrost cycle melting frost.
Not normal, call for service:
- Thick ice encasing the outdoor unit that doesn't clear after defrost
- Cold air blowing steadily in heating mode
- "Emergency heat" or "Aux heat" running constantly in mild weather. Electric backup heat is expensive to run.
- Outdoor fan not spinning, or the unit not running at all
- The house can't hold temperature even after hours of running
- Breakers tripping repeatedly
Things you can check
- Thermostat mode. Make sure it's set to Heat, not Cool or Emergency Heat, unless a technician told you to use emergency heat.
- Filter. A clogged filter hurts heat pumps in both seasons.
- Outdoor unit clearance. Clear snow, leaves and debris. Make sure gutters aren't dripping water onto the unit, which can freeze into a block of ice.
- Breakers. Check both indoor and outdoor.
Don't chip ice off the coil with tools or pour hot water on the controls. Turn the system off and call if heavy ice won't clear.
Common heat pump repairs
- Defrost control or sensor failures (the unit ices up)
- Reversing valve problems (stuck in cooling, blowing cold)
- Capacitors, contactors and fan motors
- Refrigerant leaks
- Thermostat wiring or setup, especially after a thermostat swap
Emergency heat: a quick note
Most heat pump systems have electric heat strips as backup. Running on "emergency heat" keeps the house warm while you wait for service, but it can be much more expensive to operate than the heat pump itself. Use it as a stopgap, not a fix.
Repair or replace?
If your heat pump needs a major part such as a compressor, coil or reversing valve and it's toward the end of its life, ask for both a repair price and a replacement quote. See repair vs. replace.