By Anne Fonda with expert review by Mark Woodruff, Senior Product Manager, Ducted Outdoor

Some signs you might need heat pump repair are things you can feel, hear, and see. They include:

• Heat pump not heating
• Heat pump not cooling
• Heat pump not turning on
• Heat pump fan not spinning
• Heat pump leaking water
• Frozen evaporator coil (indoor coil)
• Heat pump is making loud noises
• Uneven heating and cooling
• Higher utility bills without a rate increase or change in temperature/usage

Before you call for heat pump repair, make sure your thermostat is set to heat or cool, depending on the season.

Schedule heat pump repair

During heating season, your heat pump may enter the heat pump defrost cycle. This is a necessary cycle to help your heat pump run efficiently in colder weather. The outdoor coil is typically 10-20 degrees colder than the outdoor air, so frost and ice can form on the coil.

During defrost mode, the reversing valve reverses the flow of refrigerant to heat up the outdoor coil to melt the ice.

Don’t panic and call the fire department or your HVAC company. This is a perfectly normal process, and your energy-efficient heat pump will resume heating in a few minutes.

If the outdoor unit ices up and doesn’t melt, that’s when you should call for heat pump repair.

Heat pumps have a lot of moving parts, any of which can break down due to old age, frequent use, lack of maintenance, and more. Some of the most common repairs include:

• Capacitor replacement
• Expansion valve replacement
• Fixing electrical issues, such as replacing fuses and wiring
• Replacing the circuit board
• Replacing the defrost control board
• Refrigerant leak repair and refrigerant recharge

Less common and potentially more expensive repairs include:

• Replacing the evaporator coil
• Condenser coilreplacement
• Replacing the compressor
• Reversing valve replacement
• Replacing refrigerant lines

We do not recommend trying this. Your HVAC system is high-tech and should only be serviced by certified technicians. In addition, DIY repairs could void your warranty. That being said, you can try and troubleshoot the problem to see if there’s an easy fix. Visit our heat pump troubleshooting tips for details.

Heat pump repairs can cost anywhere from $ 75 to $5,000+, depending on the issue and your location. The complexity and labor intensity of the repair, including repairs in hard-to-access areas such as a crawl space, can increase labor costs.

 In many situations, the repair doesn’t mean fixing a part - it means replacing it. The table below can give you a ballpark idea of the cost of heat pump repair based on the replacement part.

No industry standard pricing exists for HVAC repairs and no two homes are alike. So your best bet to get accurate pricing is to call your HVAC service provider. For more expensive repairs, consider getting multiple quotes.

Remember, these are only estimates, and labor costs will vary. In addition, your cost may be lower if your heat pump is still under warranty or if you have an HVAC maintenance plan that includes a discount on parts.

Keep in mind, most HVAC companies will not quote you a price for repairs over the phone. Only after an HVAC technician visits to assess and troubleshoot your equipment will they give you a cost estimate. The exception might be if you have enabled Trane Diagnostics, which allows your Trane dealer to troubleshoot remotely.

Learn more about the factors that influence heat pump repair costs.

If your heat pump is more than 15 years old and repairs are becoming more expensive, heat pump replacement might be the most cost-effective option. HVAC financing can help you with the cost of system replacement.

If your heat pump is still under warranty, repairing it is definitely the way to go.

Check out our Repair or Replace Guide for some tips on making this decision.

Just like regular oil changes, brake checks, and new tires can help your vehicle run more efficiently and safely, regular heat pump maintenance can help optimize system efficiency and allow technicians to spot little heat pump issues before they become big problems.

There are several things you can do yourself to help keep your heat pump system running efficiently, including:

• Change the HVAC air filter every 30-90 days year-round.
• Keep the registers and return air vents clean of dust and clear of obstructions.
• Keep plants and debris at least two feet away from the outdoor unit, and clear heavy snow from the top of the unit and away from the sides.

All of these DIY maintenance tasks will help the heat pump get sufficient airflow, which is critical for efficient operation. A lot of problems can be avoided by simply changing the air filter regularly.

Just like a furnace/AC combo benefits from an inspection before the heating season and again just before the cooling season, a heat pump system will benefit from the same maintenance visits. 

Your HVAC technician will:

• Test the system for heating or cooling, depending on the season
• Check the thermostat
• Check moving parts, clean and lubricate, or adjust as necessary
• Check the outdoor coil and the indoor coil and clean if needed (may be an extra cost for cleaning)
• Checking and tightening electrical connections
• Testing refrigerant levels
• Inspect the reversing valve
• Check the defrost control operation (in the fall only)
• More, depending on the system and issues you may be experiencing

Regular professional attention can help ensure your heat pump runs smoothly and provides the comfort you deserve.

If your heat pump isn’t heating or cooling your home as it should, contact your local Trane dealer to schedule a repair call. Many dealers offer 24/7 emergency heat pump repair services, because we know your HVAC system runs in the evenings as well as on weekends and holidays.

Anne Fonda, Content Writer

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A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.

When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.