When your heat pump, a device that moves heat from one place to another to warm or cool your home. Also known as air source heat pump, it’s one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool your house—but when it breaks down, it leaves you with no warmth in winter or no cool air in summer. Heat pump issues don’t always mean a full replacement. Often, it’s something simple: a dirty filter, a tripped breaker, or a failing compressor, the heart of the heat pump that circulates refrigerant to transfer heat. Replacing a heat pump compressor can cost between $1,200 and $3,500, and if your unit is over 10 years old, that kind of repair might not make financial sense.
Most heat pump problems start small. You might notice your home isn’t heating as fast as it used to, or you hear strange banging or hissing noises. These aren’t just annoyances—they’re warnings. A failing thermostat, the control unit that tells the heat pump when to turn on or off. can trick the system into running nonstop or not running at all. Dirty coils, low refrigerant, or a blocked outdoor unit are also common culprits. Regular heat pump maintenance, cleaning filters, checking refrigerant levels, and inspecting electrical connections. can prevent 70% of these issues. But if you’re seeing ice on the outdoor unit, or your system keeps shutting off, you’re likely dealing with a deeper problem—maybe a bad capacitor, a faulty reversing valve, or a compressor on its last legs.
Many people assume a heat pump failure means buying a whole new system. But that’s not always true. Sometimes, it’s just a sensor that’s gone bad, or the fan motor that’s worn out. And if you’re in a region with cold winters, you might not realize your heat pump has a backup heating element that’s doing all the work while the main system struggles. Knowing what’s actually wrong saves you money. You don’t need to replace a $5,000 system if a $200 part is the issue. The posts below cover real cases: what failed, how much it cost, and whether fixing it made sense. You’ll find advice on compressor costs, signs your heat pump is dying, and when to call a technician versus trying a DIY fix. No fluff. Just what actually happens when heat pumps break—and how to handle it without getting ripped off.
If your heat pump isn't blowing warm air, check the thermostat, air filter, and outdoor unit for ice. These simple fixes solve most issues. If problems continue, low refrigerant or a faulty valve may need a professional.
