A heat pump heats and cools your home with the same outdoor unit. In the summer it works like an air conditioner, and in the winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air and brings it inside. We repair heat pumps of all brands in Haltom City and nearby areas.
Common Heat Pump Problems
- Outdoor unit covered in ice
- Blowing cold air in heat mode
- Backup heat running all the time
- Turning on and off too often
- Outdoor fan not spinning
- Won't switch between heating and cooling
Is It Normal for a Heat Pump to Ice Up?
A light layer of frost on a cold, damp morning is normal. The heat pump will go into defrost mode for a few minutes to melt it off. The outdoor fan stops, and you may see steam coming off the unit. If the outdoor unit stays covered in ice for hours, something is wrong. The most common causes are a bad defrost board or sensor, or low refrigerant.
Backup Heat
When it gets very cold outside, a heat pump uses backup heat to help warm the house. In most homes this is electric heat strips in the indoor unit. Some homes use a gas furnace as backup. Your thermostat may show this as "Aux Heat" or "Emergency Heat." If backup heat is running all the time, the heat pump itself may not be working right, and your electric bill will show it.
Heat Pumps and Power Outages
Heat pumps run on electricity. After a power outage, give the system a few minutes to restart. If it still won't run, check the breaker for the indoor unit and the disconnect by the outdoor unit. In Haltom City, power outages are reported to Oncor, which owns the power lines. You can report an outage to Oncor or check the Oncor outage map.
Heat Pumps in Our Service Area
Most older homes in Haltom City heat with gas. Heat pumps are more common in newer homes and in houses that switched over when the old system was replaced.
Heat Pump Thermostat Tips
- Avoid turning the heat up several degrees at once, which can turn on the backup heat
- Only use Emergency Heat if the outdoor unit has stopped working
- Make sure your thermostat is set up for a heat pump
Heat Pump FAQs
Why is steam coming off my heat pump?
That is normal during defrost mode. The unit warms the outdoor coil to melt frost, and the water turns to steam.
Why is my electric bill so high with a heat pump?
The backup heat strips may be running more than they should. This can mean the heat pump needs repair or the thermostat is not set up correctly.
Can a heat pump keep my house warm in a freeze?
Yes, with help from the backup heat. The colder it gets, the more the backup heat does.