Heat Pump Repair
Diagnosis and repair for existing heat pumps, including defrost and reversing valve faults.
Designing a heat pump system around winter
Heat pumps have changed a great deal in recent years. Variable speed compressors and improved refrigerant systems allow many current models to keep producing useful heat at outdoor temperatures that would have overwhelmed older equipment. That makes a heat pump a realistic primary heating source for many homes, but it also raises the stakes on design. A system sized only for summer cooling can come up short on the coldest nights.
Our design starts with a room by room heating and cooling load calculation. In most climates with real winters, the heating load is larger than the cooling load. We look at how the heat pump model you are considering performs at low outdoor temperatures, using manufacturer performance data rather than just the nominal rating. That tells us how much of your winter heating the heat pump can handle on its own.
The goal is a system where backup heat is the exception, not the routine. Controls setup is what makes that happen.
The point where the heat pump can no longer keep up by itself is called the balance point. Below it, backup heat fills the gap. Backup can be electric resistance heat strips in the air handler, or a gas furnace in a dual fuel system. We configure the thermostat and controls so backup heat comes on only when it is needed, in stages where possible, rather than running whenever the house is a degree or two below the setting.
Placement of the outdoor unit matters more for a heat pump than for an air conditioner. In heating mode, the unit produces meltwater during defrost cycles, so it needs to sit high enough to stay clear of snow buildup and drain properly without creating ice on walkways. We plan stands or brackets, clearances and drainage paths as part of the installation.
Airflow deserves attention too. Heat pumps deliver air at a lower temperature than a furnace, so they depend on adequate airflow to keep rooms comfortable. We measure static pressure on your existing ductwork and identify restrictions before installation. If ducts are undersized or leaking, the proposal explains the correction needed, and our Ductwork Install And Replace page describes that work in more detail.
Installation follows the same careful steps we use on every refrigerant system: nitrogen brazing, pressure testing and evacuation before charging, followed by measured commissioning in both heating and cooling modes. We walk you through thermostat settings, explain what defrost cycles look and sound like, and register the equipment for manufacturer coverage.
Utility and government incentive programs for heat pumps change frequently, so we recommend confirming what is currently available before you decide. Third-party financing is also available subject to credit approval.