Heat Pump Repair & Installation in South Fulton
Heat pumps fail in ways a gas furnace can't: a coil that won't defrost, a stuck reversing valve, aux heat running all day. We find the cause and fix it, or size a replacement, across South Fulton and nearby towns.
Iced-over heat pump?
Until it is fixed: Don't chip or scrape ice off the outdoor coil. The thin fins bend and the coil can puncture.
What temperature is too cold for heat pumps?
There isn't a set number. A heat pump will continue to extract heat from the outside air however the output will reduce. The electric aux strips will compensate for this. The design day is important. The 99.6% heating design temperature for the area from ASHRAE is 21.7F. This is the lowest temperature the heat pump in South Fulton needs to be designed for. Around a third of owner homes in the city use electric heating. In Red Oak, Stonewall and Fife electric heating is the norm. Many of these outside units will have been running for well over a decade during long humid summers. The first hard freeze will expose a faulty defrost board or fan motor.
What a heat pump repair visit covers
The ice, the noise or the cool air is why you called. The rest of the heat pump gets checked while we're there.
Outdoor heat pump, service panel open
Defrost cycle test
We force a defrost and watch the coil clear. A board or sensor that never starts one lets ice build.
Reversing valve check
This valve switches the unit between heating and cooling. When it sticks, you get cool air in heat mode.
Refrigerant pressures
We read pressures and look for leaks. Existing R-410A systems can still be serviced, so a leak is a repair question.
Aux heat strips
We check that the backup electric strips work, and that they come on only when they should.
Both modes, full cycle
Steady warm air in heat mode, cool air in cooling mode, and a clean switch between them.
Wiring and drain check
Wiring at both units, the outdoor fan, and the indoor condensate drain before we leave.
Heat pump or AC and gas furnace: which is yours?
An aux or emergency heat setting on the thermostat means a heat pump. A flue pipe on the indoor unit means gas heat. A no-heat repair starts from there.
| Compare | Heat pump | AC plus gas furnace |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An outdoor unit that cools in summer, heats in winter. | Outdoor AC for cooling, indoor gas furnace for heat. |
| Where it sits | Outdoor unit in the yard, air handler in an attic or closet. | Condenser in the yard, furnace in an attic, closet or crawlspace. |
| Usually found in | All-electric homes, common in South Fulton rentals. | Most owner-occupied homes with a gas meter. |
| What failure looks like | Ice that won't clear, cool air, or nonstop aux heat. | Cold air from vents, or burners that won't stay lit. |
| What the repair needs | Defrost board, reversing valve, fan motor or a leak repair. | Furnace work for heat, outdoor unit work for cooling. |
What is the most common problem with heat pumps?
- The aux or emergency heat light stays on and the electric bill jumps.
- Thick ice covers the outdoor coil and doesn't melt off between cycles.
- Air from the vents feels cool even though the thermostat says heat.
- A loud whoosh or grinding that goes past the normal defrost sound.
- The unit seems stuck in heating or cooling mode.
Two or more sound familiar? Leave the settings alone and call us.
Heat pump coil iced over
Heat pump questions from South Fulton homeowners
We hear these on most heat pump calls. If yours isn't here, call or send the form.
Heat pumps
Why is my bill so high with a heat pump?
Usually the back up strips. The DOE recommends not to manually turn the thermostat down causing the electric resistance heating to kick in. For Georgia Power customers you can get 50% (capped) from HEIP. It covers a smart thermostat or switching from electric furnace to heat pump. Apply within 60 days. Check the program terms.
Can a heat pump be repaired?
Yes. Most of the time it will be one part. Defrost board, fan motor, capacitor or reversing valve. This will need a tech. Capacitors hold a charge once the power is off. Refrigerant requires the correct equipment.
AC plus gas furnace
Do heat pumps cool as well as air conditioners?
Yes. A heat pump is an air conditioner that can be reversed. In winter it can produce up to 3x the heat for the energy used (DOE). If switching from gas the tech will check the duct size, thermostat and circuit on the outside unit.
Can a heat pump last 20 years?
Some reach it, but don't plan on it. An NAHB study put heat pumps at about 16 years, partly because they run in both seasons while an AC rests all winter. Clean coils and a working defrost help.
On a cold day
At what temperature does a heat pump freeze up?
There isn't a set number. Frost will build up in the cold and damp South Fulton weather. This will then defrost often causing a cloud of steam. This is normal. If there is a solid block of ice this isn't normal and will put strain on the outside unit.
Is it okay for a heat pump to run all night in winter?
Yes. Long run times on a cold South Fulton night are normal, and steadier than letting the house cool and making the strips catch up. If it never shuts off and the house stays cold, call us, 7am to 7pm daily.
Heat pump iced up? Leave it, then call.
Tell us what the heat pump is doing, whether aux heat is showing, its rough age, and whether a gas furnace backs it up. Then the right parts come along.
(470) 912-2502Open every day, 7am to 7pm