ServicesHeat Pumps
Heat Pump Repair and Installation in Rosalia
We repair heat pumps that ice up, blow cold or lean on backup heat, and we install cold-climate models sized to your home. You get a plain explanation of the cause, a written quote before any work begins and a straight answer on repair versus replacement.
One System for Heating and Cooling
A heat pump moves heat instead of making it. In summer it pulls heat out of your home like an air conditioner. In winter a reversing valve flips the refrigerant flow so the outdoor coil gathers heat from cold air and the indoor coil releases it. Because it moves heat rather than burning fuel, a healthy unit delivers more heat than the electricity it uses.
Older single-speed heat pumps lose capacity fast below about 25°F and hand the load to electric resistance strips, which is where winter bills climb. Current cold-climate models with variable-speed inverter compressors keep producing usable heat well into single digits. That difference matters on a hard Palouse winter night, and it is the first thing we look at when you ask whether to repair or replace.
If your home has no ducts, our Ductless Mini-Splits page covers that option. This page is about ducted, whole-home heat pumps.
What Our Heat Pump Work Covers
Diagnosis and repair
We test the reversing valve, defrost control board, outdoor fan motor, capacitors, contactor and refrigerant charge. When you approve the repair, the amount you paid for the diagnostic comes off the repair bill.
Refrigerant leak checks
Low charge is a symptom, not a fix. We find the leak, usually at a brazed joint, a service valve or a rubbed line set, before recharging, so you are not paying for the same refrigerant twice.
Defrost and backup heat testing
We run the unit through a defrost cycle and confirm the auxiliary heat strips stage on only when they should. Strips running all day are a common cause of a sudden spike on the electric bill.
Replacement and new installs
We do a load calculation for your home, then size and set the outdoor unit on a raised pad so snow and meltwater stay clear of the coil. Estimates on installations and replacements are free.
Rebate and credit documentation
Qualifying heat pumps can earn an Avista rebate and a federal tax credit. We gather the model numbers, efficiency ratings and invoice details those programs ask for and walk you through filing.
Signs Your Heat Pump Needs Attention
- A solid block of ice on the outdoor coil
- Light frost is normal in winter. A coil that stays encased in ice points to a failed defrost board, a stuck sensor or low refrigerant.
- Cool air blowing in heat mode
- Often a reversing valve stuck in cooling position or a bad solenoid coil. It can also be a low charge, which needs a leak search.
- The aux or emergency heat light stays on
- Your thermostat is calling for resistance heat because the heat pump is not keeping up. That costs far more to run and usually has a fixable cause.
- Short cycling or loud starts
- A weak run capacitor or failing contactor makes the compressor struggle at startup. Caught early, it is a small part instead of a compressor.
- Bills climbing with no change in use
- Dirty coils, a clogged filter or low charge all cut efficiency before the system actually fails.
How a Heat Pump Visit Runs
- 1
You reach us by phone
Tell us what the unit is doing and when it started. Broken heat in winter gets 24/7 emergency service with no emergency or after-hours fees.
- 2
We test, then explain
Our technician checks pressures, temperatures across the coils, electrical components and the defrost cycle, and shows you what failed and why.
- 3
Written quote, your decision
You get a written quote before any work begins, with repair and replacement laid out side by side when both make sense.
- 4
Repair or install, then verify
We complete the work, run the system in both heating and cooling modes and clean up the work area. Repairs carry a 1-year labor warranty.
What Moves the Cost of Heat Pump Work
Repair cost depends mostly on which part failed and whether refrigerant is involved. Replacement cost depends on the size and type of system your home needs. We put every line in writing before we start.
- The failed component
- A capacitor or contactor is a modest repair. A reversing valve or compressor means brazing, evacuation and a full recharge, which takes far more labor.
- Refrigerant type and amount
- Older units on R-22 cost much more to recharge, and that often tips the answer toward replacement.
- System size and efficiency
- Capacity, inverter versus single-stage compressor and the cold-climate rating all change equipment cost. Higher-efficiency models are also the ones most likely to qualify for rebates.
- Electrical and site work
- Some homes need a new disconnect, breaker or a raised outdoor pad. We note these in the quote so nothing shows up later.
- Rebates and credits
- An Avista rebate and the federal tax credit can offset part of a qualifying install, which changes the net cost of a higher-efficiency unit.
Heat Pump Questions
- Will a heat pump keep my home warm in a real cold snap?
- A cold-climate inverter model keeps producing heat into single digits and below, though output drops as it gets colder. We size the system and the backup heat so the strips cover only the coldest hours, not the whole season.
- Should I repair my heat pump or replace it?
- Usually repair if the unit is under about 10 years old and the problem is a part like a capacitor, sensor or defrost board. Replacement starts to make sense with a failed compressor, an R-22 system or repeated refrigerant leaks. We give you both numbers and let you decide.
- Why does my heat pump blow steam and go quiet in winter?
- That is a defrost cycle. The unit briefly reverses to melt frost off the outdoor coil, and the steam is that frost melting. It is normal unless ice keeps building up between cycles.
- Can a new heat pump qualify for an Avista rebate or a federal tax credit?
- Many cold-climate and high-efficiency models do. Before you choose a unit, we point out which options meet the program requirements. After the install, we hand over the equipment and efficiency details you need and help you get the filings in.
- What credentials and coverage stand behind your heat pump work?
- Our company is licensed and bonded in Washington and carries $1M general liability insurance. Every repair we make is backed by a 1-year labor warranty.
Get a Straight Answer on Your Heat Pump
We serve Rosalia, Cheney, Colfax, Spokane and nearby towns. Get a free estimate on a new heat pump, or 24/7 repair when yours quits on a cold night.