Cold air, ice or no heat? Call a New Jersey technician.
Heat pump repair
StateNew Jersey
ServiceDiagnosis, repair
All 21 NJ countiesPick the symptom. See the likely cause and what to check before you call.
Air from a heat pump feels cooler than furnace air, and it runs cool for a few minutes during defrost. Air that stays cold points to a stuck reversing valve, low refrigerant or a thermostat fault.
Try this firstConfirm the thermostat is set to Heat, then check the filter.
Call about thisLight frost is normal and should melt during a defrost cycle. Thick ice that stays points to a failed defrost control or sensor, low refrigerant or a stopped outdoor fan.
Try this firstClear snow from around the unit. Never chip ice off the coil, and switch the system off if ice covers it.
Call about thisA tripped breaker, a dead thermostat, a failed capacitor or a burned contactor can each leave the system silent.
Try this firstCheck the thermostat batteries and reset the breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
Call about thisStarting and stopping every few minutes points to restricted airflow, low refrigerant, a failing sensor or an oversized system. It wears the compressor quickly.
Try this firstReplace a dirty filter and open any closed supply vents.
Call about thisAuxiliary heat is normal during defrost and the coldest hours. If it stays on in mild weather, the compressor may not be keeping up, and electric heat costs far more to run.
Try this firstKeep the thermostat at a steady setting rather than making large jumps.
Call about thisA whoosh at the start or end of defrost is normal. Grinding, banging or screeching usually means a fan motor, a loose part or compressor trouble.
Try this firstSwitch the system off at the thermostat so a small fault does not become a large one.
Call about this
Long freezes in the hills lean hard on defrost controls and backup heat.
Freeze and thaw days drip meltwater onto outdoor units, then lock it into ice.
Salt air corrodes coils, fins and electrical connections faster than inland air.
| Part | What it does | Signs it is failing |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor | Pumps refrigerant through the whole system | Tripped breaker, hard starts, no heating or cooling |
| Reversing valve | Switches the system between heat and cool | Stuck in one mode, cold air in winter |
| Defrost control | Clears ice from the outdoor coil | Thick ice that never melts |
| Capacitor and contactor | Start and power the motors | Humming, clicking, outdoor unit will not start |
| Refrigerant lines | Carry heat between indoors and outdoors | Weak output, ice on lines, oily residue at joints |
We repair ducted heat pumps, ductless mini-splits and dual-fuel systems, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, Mitsubishi and Daikin equipment.
We cover all 21 New Jersey counties. Don’t see your town? Call and ask.
Hackensack, Paramus, Fort Lee
Newark, Montclair, Livingston
Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne
Morristown, Parsippany, Denville
Paterson, Clifton, Wayne
Newton, Sparta, Vernon
Belvidere, Phillipsburg, Hackettstown
Flemington, Clinton, Lambertville, Milford
Trenton, Princeton, Hamilton
New Brunswick, Edison, Woodbridge
Freehold, Middletown, Red Bank
Somerville, Bridgewater, Hillsborough
Elizabeth, Linden, Plainfield, Union, Summit, Hillside, Kenilworth, New Providence, Roselle Park, Westfield
Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Hammonton
Mount Holly, Evesham, Moorestown
Camden, Cherry Hill, Voorhees
Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood
Bridgeton, Vineland, Millville
Woodbury, Deptford, Washington Township
Toms River, Brick, Lakewood
Salem, Pennsville, Carneys Point
Call (858) 293-9400 and tell us your town and what the system is doing. We serve homes in all 21 New Jersey counties, from Sussex to Cape May.
It may be in a normal defrost cycle, which lasts a few minutes. If the air stays cold, the cause is often the thermostat setting, a stuck reversing valve or low refrigerant.
A thin layer of frost in cold, damp weather is normal. Ice that thickens, covers the coil or stays after a defrost cycle needs a repair visit.
Yes, for short periods. Emergency heat turns off the outdoor unit and relies on backup heat, so it keeps the house warm until the repair but usually costs more to run.
Many heat pumps last about 15 years. A failed capacitor on a newer system is usually worth repairing, while a failed compressor on an older one is often the point to compare replacement.
Tell us your town and what the system is doing.