The usual suspects
Low refrigerant
Heating capacity drains away with a slow leak — the top real fault we find, often with icing.
A stuck reversing valve
The valve that flips cooling to heating sticks — the system literally air-conditions your winter.
Defrost problems
A failed defrost cycle leaves the outdoor coil iced and useless — see the frozen guide.
Normal-but-mild output
Heat pump supply air runs 85–105°F — warmer than the room but cooler than a furnace blast. Working fine can FEEL lukewarm.
Heat pumps are our home turf.
We install and repair them across Puget Sound — diagnosis with gauges, price approved by you first.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
Worth trying first (5 minutes, free)
- 1
Thermostat to HEAT, not "emergency heat," setpoint above room temp.
- 2
Check the outdoor unit: running? iced solid? silent? Each is a different story for the tech.
- 3
Fresh filter, open vents. Airflow starves heat pumps too.
- 4
Measure the supply air: above 85°F at the vent is likely normal operation — below that, book it.
Still not working? Then it’s a technician job — and the sooner it’s booked, the sooner the house is comfortable again. Book the visit →
Stop and book a pro if…
- The outdoor unit is a block of ice that never clears.
- It blows genuinely cold air in heat mode — reversing valve or charge.
- The breaker trips, or you hear grinding outside.
- Your electric bill doubled — you may be living on backup heat strips.
Why homeowners hand it to us
- You approve the price first. Upfront quote before a single screw turns.
- Same-day service. Book in a minute, hear from a tech within 1 business hour.
- 500+ jobs done by 4.9★ rated, professional technicians.
- Fixed right, guaranteed. If it’s not right, we make it right.
Quick answers
The air feels barely warm. Broken?
Maybe not — heat pumps deliver a steady 85–105°F, which feels cool to a hand expecting furnace air. If rooms hold temperature, it’s working. If setpoint slips, book the checkup.
What’s "emergency heat" and should I use it?
It’s the electric backup — pure resistance heat at several times the running cost. Use it if the heat pump truly fails, then book promptly; it’s a costly way to live.
Do heat pumps even work in Washington winters?
They’re ideal here — our winters are mild enough for high efficiency all season. When one underperforms it’s a fault, not the climate.
Done guessing?
Don’t run space heaters all week. Book now — tech contact within 1 business hour.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
More: all problems · heating service · AC service · 24/7 emergency