Heat Pump Repair in McKinney, TX
SmartWay repairs heat pumps in McKinney and 13 nearby cities under Texas license TACLA00108954C. A heat pump diagnostic costs $65, and that fee is dropped when you go ahead with the repair.
Diagnostic $65, waived with repair. Texas license TACLA00108954C. Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm.
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In cooling mode it moves heat out of the house. In heating mode a reversing valve flips the refrigerant flow so the outdoor coil pulls heat in. Because the outdoor unit runs in both seasons, its capacitor, contactor, fan motor and compressor log more hours than an AC-only condenser. Heating mode adds its own parts: the reversing valve and its solenoid coil, the defrost board and coil sensor, and the backup heat strips in the air handler. A refrigerant leak hurts both modes.
A reversing valve, compressor or model-specific board may not be on the van. When a part has to be ordered, the technician comes back to install it.
Common heat pump problems
It blows cool air when set to heat
The reversing valve is stuck or its solenoid coil has failed, the refrigerant charge is low, or the thermostat is set up wrong for a heat pump. The fix is a coil, a valve, a leak repair or a thermostat setting.
The outdoor unit is covered in ice
Light frost that melts off during a defrost cycle is normal. A solid layer that never clears means defrost is not happening: a failed defrost board, a bad coil sensor, a dead outdoor fan motor or low refrigerant.
Indoor fan runs but the outside unit is silent
Check the breaker and the outdoor disconnect first. After that, the usual causes are a failed contactor, a broken low-voltage wire, a tripped pressure switch or a defrost board that is not passing the call. A compressor that will not start is a much bigger job.
The electric bill jumped and the heat strips keep running
The backup heat strips are doing the work the heat pump should. Causes include low refrigerant, a defrost control stuck in defrost, a thermostat staging problem or a weak compressor. A sequencer or relay stuck closed runs the strips even when the aux light is off.
It will not cool the house in cooling mode
Cooling failures look like any AC problem: a dirty filter or condenser coil, a failed capacitor, a refrigerant leak, or a reversing valve stuck in the heating position. Pressure readings at the service ports separate a leak from a stuck valve.
Signs you need heat pump repair
- Air colder than the room in heat mode: reversing valve, solenoid coil or low refrigerant
- Thick ice on the outdoor coil that never melts: defrost board, coil sensor or fan motor
- Aux heat light on for hours at a time: heat pump not carrying the load
- Breaker trips when the system starts: shorted compressor, fan motor or heat strip wiring
- Oily residue or hissing at the refrigerant lines: a refrigerant leak
- System turns on and off every few minutes: thermostat, low charge or a clogged filter
What the visit includes
- The technician runs the system, checks the thermostat call and finds the fault.
- Refrigerant pressures, the capacitor, contactor, defrost controls and backup heat strips are tested before any part is replaced.
- The technician tells you the price before any work starts. Go ahead with the repair and the $65 diagnostic is waived.
- If a part has to be ordered, the technician schedules a return visit.
Brands and equipment
SmartWay works on split-system heat pumps with an indoor air handler and on ductless mini split heat pumps. Brands in our job photos include American Standard, Lennox, Carrier, Trane, Goodman, Rheem, Daikin, Bryant, Samsung and Cooper & Hunter.
Where we do heat pump
Heat Pump is available in all 14 cities we serve from our McKinney shop: McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Plano, Allen, Celina, Anna, Melissa, Lucas, Murphy, Richardson, Garland, Sachse and Princeton.
Common questions
How much does heat pump repair cost?
It depends on the part that failed. A defrost sensor or a reversing valve solenoid coil is one of the cheaper repairs, because the refrigerant circuit stays sealed. Replacing the reversing valve itself costs far more: the refrigerant is recovered, the valve is brazed in and the system is recharged. The technician tells you the price before any work starts.
When should the backup heat strips run by themselves?
Only when the outdoor unit has stopped and you need heat until it is repaired. A heat pump thermostat has a setting that shuts off the outdoor unit and runs the electric strips alone, which costs more to run. Switch back to normal heat after the repair.
Is it normal for my heat pump to blow lukewarm air?
Yes, within limits. Heat pump air often leaves the vents around 90 degrees, well below the air from a gas furnace, so it can feel lukewarm on your hand. If the air feels colder than the room, or the house keeps losing temperature, have it checked.
Why is there steam coming off my outdoor unit?
It is most likely a defrost cycle, which is normal. The reversing valve shifts, the outdoor fan stops and frost melts off the coil for a few minutes, so you may hear a whoosh and see steam. If ice builds into a solid layer that does not clear, the defrost controls need a look.
What does the aux heat light on my thermostat mean?
It means the backup electric heat strips in the indoor unit are running. They come on during defrost and when you raise the thermostat several degrees at once. If the light stays on for hours, have the heat pump checked.
Is an old heat pump worth fixing?
Yes, when the failed part sits outside the sealed refrigerant circuit, such as a defrost sensor, solenoid coil or contactor. Past 10 years, the age at which ENERGY STAR suggests weighing replacement, a failed compressor or reversing valve is where the technician prices both options. Replacement is quoted at your home.
From customers
“The technician was so quick in his assessment, under 20 minutes.”
“The repairman arrived ahead of schedule, which was great.”
Book heat pump repair
Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm. Same-day appointments are often available.