Year-Round Home Comfort
Heat pumps are popular in Roanoke because one unit does both heating and cooling.
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John Calhoun Electric & HVAC provides heat pump repair, service, maintenance, installation, and replacement throughout Roanoke, VA and nearby communities. Our technicians work on heat pumps with electric backup heat, dual-fuel systems, indoor air handlers, and the controls that keep the system running in both heating and cooling modes.
Because we repair these systems as well as install them, we see the full range of heat pump problems. That includes low refrigerant, failed capacitors, bad blower motors, reversing valve issues, defrost control problems, thermostat problems, and major component failures.
The goal is to understand how the complete system is operating before deciding what it needs.
Understanding the equipment
A heat pump uses refrigerant to move heat instead of creating heat the same way a furnace does.
During the summer, it works much like a central air conditioner by moving heat out of the home.
During colder weather, the process reverses and the system pulls heat from outside and moves it indoors.
That means the same outdoor unit plays a major role in both heating and cooling.
Many heat pump systems also have electric backup heat. Some homes use dual-fuel systems that combine a heat pump with another heat source.
Our work records include heat pumps with electric heat, dual-fuel controls, air handlers, and systems that needed troubleshooting in both heating and cooling modes.
System-wide diagnostics
Heat pumps have many of the same parts as a central AC system, but they also have added controls that allow the system to switch between heating and cooling.
When a heat pump acts up, here is what we check:
Our work history includes heat pumps that would not cool because of failed capacitors, systems with low refrigerant, units that entered lockout during defrost, blower motor failures, and systems with possible reversing valve or TXV problems.
That is why a heat pump problem should be diagnosed before a repair is recommended. Learn more about our approach to heating repair and AC repair.
New and replacement equipment
One system, both jobs. That is the appeal.
Our work records include complete heat pump replacements, indoor and outdoor equipment replacement, compressor work, coil replacement, and quotes for new heat pump systems with air handlers and electric heat.
A major failure, repeat refrigerant loss, or a string of expensive repairs means it is time to look at replacement.
We look at the condition of the current equipment and the repair that would be needed before recommending a new system. When replacement makes sense, we can explain the heating installation and replacement process.
Preventive care
A heat pump runs year round, so it puts on more hours than a system that only cools.
Regular maintenance gives us a chance to check the parts that affect both heating and cooling.
That covers:
Our technicians use many of these same checks during real service calls and heating maintenance visits.
Helpful answers
A heat pump often looks similar to a standard central AC system.
One clue is that the outdoor unit runs during both the summer and winter. Your thermostat probably has auxiliary and emergency heat settings too.
Not sure what you have? We will tell you on the first visit.
A few things drag down heat pump performance.
Low refrigerant, poor airflow, dirty coils, or a bad reversing valve all cut the heat it puts out.
Our technicians have worked on heat pumps with refrigerant problems, defrost issues, control problems, and other faults that affected system performance.
Auxiliary heat is a backup heat source that helps the heat pump when more heating is needed.
Many systems use electric heat strips inside the air handler.
Our service history includes systems where technicians checked electric heat operation and confirmed that the heat kit was working properly.
In cold weather a heat pump has to melt frost off the outdoor coil.
The system uses a defrost cycle to do this.
Our records include a heat pump that was short cycling during heating and entering defrost in a way that caused the control board to lock out system operation.
If the system keeps shutting down or seems stuck in defrost, it should be checked.
The reversing valve allows a heat pump to switch between heating and cooling.
If the valve or its controls fail, the system will not switch modes.
Our technicians have checked reversing valve operation while diagnosing systems that were not heating or cooling as expected.
Most heat pump problems are repairable.
A bad capacitor, thermostat, or motor is not a reason to replace the system.
A dead compressor or a leaking coil is where replacement wins.
Our work records include customers who were given both repair and replacement options when a major heat pump repair was needed.
Because a heat pump provides both heating and cooling, it is used throughout much of the year.
Twice a year works for most Roanoke homes. Once before cooling season, once before heating season.
Older units and hard-run systems need it more often.
Yes.
Our technicians have worked with dual-fuel systems that combine heat pumps with another heat source, including equipment supported through our furnace services, as well as systems that use electric backup heat.
The thermostat and controls need to be set up correctly so the different heat sources operate when they should.
Heat pump service in Roanoke, VA
A heat pump works all year, so one problem takes out your heat and your AC.
John Calhoun Electric & HVAC provides heat pump repair, maintenance, installation, and replacement throughout the Roanoke area. We handle the mechanical, refrigerant, electrical, and control side of these systems.
If your heat pump is not heating, not cooling, running constantly, shutting down, or showing signs of another problem, contact John Calhoun Electric & HVAC to schedule service.
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