It cools but will not heat, or heats but will not cool
The most heat pump specific symptom there is, and it points somewhere a central air conditioner has no equivalent of. Have it checked promptly, because the cause often gets worse.
Heat Pump Repair in Poway, CA
A heat pump does two jobs on one set of equipment, so the first question is which job it has stopped doing. We diagnose in both modes, show you what failed, and give you the price in writing before we touch anything.
Signs Your Heat Pump Needs Repair
Six things homeowners call us about. Each is a reason to have the system checked. None of them is a diagnosis.
The backup electric heat seems to run constantly
Expensive to run, and a sign the system is not carrying the load it should. People usually notice this on the bill before they notice it in the house.
Ice on the outdoor unit that does not clear
Some frost in cold weather is normal, and a working system melts it off on its own in a defrost cycle. Ice that stays put, or a unit encased in it, needs looking at.
It runs constantly without reaching temperature
In either mode. The charge, the airflow, and the outdoor unit have to be checked together, because guessing between them is how the wrong part gets replaced.
A new noise, or the outdoor unit short cycling
Both are worth catching before the compressor takes the damage.
It will not start at all
Check the breaker once. If it trips again, stop resetting it, because a breaker that keeps tripping is protecting you from something.
Problems We Diagnose and Repair
Six groups of faults, what we check in each, and where a diagnosis can land.
Reversing valve and mode changeover
The component that switches the system between heating and cooling, and the one that causes the symptom above. We test the changeover in both directions, because a valve that moves one way can stick the other.
Defrost system
The defrost control, the sensors it depends on, and the outdoor coil. A defrost fault shows up as ice in winter or as a system defrosting when it has no reason to.
Backup electric heat
The elements, the sequencer, and the controls that decide when they come on. Backup heat running when it should not shows up on the bill, and it shows up fast.
Refrigerant circuit and compressor
Charge, leaks, and the compressor itself. We locate leaks before we add refrigerant, because a recharge without a repair means the same call again once it leaks back out.
Electrical components
Capacitors, contactors, connections, and the disconnect. The most common failures we see, and usually the quickest to resolve. Close to the coast, corrosion gets to these first.
Airflow and controls
The blower, the filter, the ducts, and the thermostat, including whether it is configured correctly for a heat pump. A thermostat configured as though it were controlling a furnace is a real fault, and an easy one to walk past.
We are a C-20 contractor, so HVAC is the only thing we do. One thing you do not need here: no combustion means no flue, no gas valve, and no carbon monoxide test.
Repair or Replace Your Heat Pump?
We are on your side on this one. Most heat pump faults we go out to are worth repairing, and when that is the case we repair it and say so.
There is a consideration specific to these systems. A heat pump runs in both seasons, so it accumulates roughly twice the operating hours of a cooling only system of the same age. A ten year old heat pump has done what a twenty year old air conditioner has done, which means the replacement conversation arrives earlier here than people expect.
Replacement becomes the better answer when the compressor or the reversing valve has failed on an older system, when the refrigerant is being phased down, or when repairs have started coming one after another. We bring the repair price and the replacement price to the same visit. If replacement is the direction, that continues on our Heat Pump Replacement page.
How a Repair Visit Goes
- 1
You tell us what it is doing
Which mode has stopped working, or both. Two minutes on the phone so we arrive with the right parts.
- 2
We diagnose before we quote, in both modes
Always in that order, and always both. A fault that only shows in heating is invisible if we test cooling and leave.
- 3
You see what failed
We photograph the failed component and show it to you, then we talk about price.
- 4
You get the number in writing
Before any work starts. If the repair turns up a second problem, that comes back to you first.
- 5
We repair it and test it
We run the system in cooling, switch it to heating, confirm the changeover and the defrost function, and tell you what to watch for.
What Does Heat Pump Repair Cost?
We price the repair once we know what failed, so the number is the number for your fault.
What affects the price
- The component. A capacitor and a reversing valve are different orders of magnitude.
- Parts availability. Current equipment is stocked. Older systems and discontinued models take longer and cost more to source.
- Refrigerant type, which affects what servicing costs on older systems.
- Access to the outdoor unit and to the indoor equipment.
- Whether the fault has a cause behind it. A failed contactor on a corroded disconnect is two repairs, and we show you both before you approve either.
You get the repair price at the end of the diagnostic visit, in writing
- What failed
- Both modes tested
- The condition of the components around it
- The repair we recommend
Repair price
The scope and the number are in writing before anything starts.
Schedule a Diagnostic Visit
Why Homeowners Choose GVK for Heat Pump Repair
Both modes tested, not just the one that failed
A heat pump has components that only work in one direction. Testing one mode and leaving is how faults get missed and visits get repeated.
Diagnosis before recommendation
We find the cause first. Nothing gets quoted against a symptom.
You see what we found
We photograph the failed component and show it to you, along with what happens to the rest of the system if it stays that way.
A written price before approved work
The scope and the number are in writing before anything starts.
A C-20 contractor since 2003
License #911659, bonded and insured. A 4.9 rating across 300+ reviews on Yelp and Google, and 600+ permitted projects on public record.
What Heat Pump Repair Looks Like
Heat Pump Repair Reviews
Dave M.Yelp review
“My impression of George is that he's a very honest person who takes a lot of pride in providing a high quality service.”
Read on YelpScott KanuhaGoogle review
“It was very clear that it was important to him that his service is high quality.”
Read on GoogleTom S.Yelp review
“We live in South Orange County and GVK Heating and Air were recommended to us — specifically Denys at GVK.”
Read on YelpOliver ChiongGoogle review
“They performed the first AC installation on my 30-year-old home.”
Read on GoogleGabe MagassyGoogle review
“He wants to meet your needs at a good price and he is a pleasure to work with.”
Read on GoogleServing All of San Diego County
We are based in Poway and work across all of San Diego County: repairs, replacements, maintenance, and tune-ups.
- Poway
- Rancho Bernardo
- 4S Ranch
- Carmel Mountain
- Sabre Springs
- Rancho Penasquitos
- Scripps Ranch
- Mira Mesa
- Escondido
- Ramona
- San Marcos
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Carmel Valley
- Del Mar
- Solana Beach
- Encinitas
- Carlsbad
- Oceanside
- La Jolla
- Valley Center
- Santee
- Lakeside
- El Cajon
- La Mesa
- Chula Vista
Heat Pump Repair FAQ
It cools but will not heat. What is that?
That symptom points at the components that only exist on a heat pump: the reversing valve, the defrost system, or the controls that switch the system between modes. It can also be the charge. We test both modes to establish which, because the fault is invisible if you only test the one that still works.
Is ice on the outdoor unit in winter normal?
Some frost is. A heat pump runs a defrost cycle to clear it, and during that cycle you may see steam and hear the system change note. What is not normal is ice that stays put, or a unit encased in it, and that is worth a call.
What does the diagnostic visit cost, and when do I find out the repair price?
Ask us what the visit costs when you call and we will tell you before we come out. The repair price comes at the end of that visit, in writing, once we know what failed.
Why is my electricity bill so high this winter?
The common cause is backup electric heat carrying more of the load than it should, which usually means something else is wrong. It is worth diagnosing, because backup heat is the expensive way to heat a house.
Do I need a carbon monoxide check?
No. A heat pump does not burn anything, so there is no flue, no gas valve, and nothing to test for. If your house also has a gas furnace as backup heat, that part does need it.
Should I turn it off before you arrive?
If there is a burning smell or the breaker keeps tripping, shut it off and leave it off. Otherwise leave it as it is, because a fault we can watch happening is easier to find than one we have to reproduce.
When does a repeat problem become a replacement conversation?
When the compressor or the reversing valve has failed on an older system, when parts are discontinued, or when repairs come one after another. Remember that a heat pump has about twice the running hours of an air conditioner of the same age. We bring both prices to the same visit.
Related Home Comfort Services
Heat Pump Replacement
When the arithmetic stops working and a new system is the better answer.
Explore Heat Pump Replacement
Heat Pump Maintenance
A system running in both seasons needs a different service schedule from one that runs in one.
Explore Heat Pump Maintenance
Furnace and Heating Repair
If your heat comes from a gas furnace.
Explore Furnace and Heating Repair
Duct Repair
When rooms perform unevenly and the equipment is not the reason.
Explore Duct RepairGet Your Heat Pump Diagnosed
Tell us which mode has stopped working. A diagnosis tells you what failed, what it costs to fix, and whether fixing it is worth it. In writing, with a photo of the part, and with both modes tested.
Call or text(619) 277-6279
Emailgvkhvac@yahoo.com
HoursMonday – Saturday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Office13459 Olive Tree Ln., Poway, CA 92064