Heat pump repair and installation in Memphis, TN covers the systems that both cool and heat. A heat pump runs a defrost cycle in cold, damp weather, switches to emergency heat when it cannot keep up and depends on the reversing valve, defrost board and sensors to do it correctly. Use Call Now to describe what the system is doing and you will be connected with an independent HVAC contractor serving 59 ZIP codes around Memphis.
How a heat pump works
A heat pump moves heat instead of making it. In cooling mode it works like an air conditioner. In heating mode a reversing valve flips the refrigerant flow so the outdoor coil absorbs heat from outside air and the indoor coil releases it. Electric resistance heat strips act as backup, often called auxiliary or emergency heat.
Common heat pump faults
- Low refrigerant charge from a leak
- Defrost control board or sensor failure
- Thermostat wiring or setting problems
- Dirty or iced outdoor coil and failed fan motor
- Failed reversing valve, so the system will not switch modes
Choosing a heat pump
Compare HSPF2, the cold-weather performance rating, the size from a Manual J calculation and the backup heat on offer. Cold-climate and variable-speed heat pumps hold their efficiency at lower temperatures. Also ask about thermostat compatibility and permits.
Emergency heat vs auxiliary heat
- Strips use much more electricity, so use emergency heat only when the outdoor unit is not working
- Auxiliary heat runs automatically with the heat pump on very cold days or when the thermostat setting is far above the temperature
- A system that uses strips all the time may have a fault
- Emergency heat is a manual setting that turns the heat pump off and uses only the electric strips
Defrost cycles and when to worry
Ice forms on the outdoor coil in cold, damp weather. To melt it the system runs in reverse for a short time, so steam may rise from the unit and a fan may stop, which is normal. Heating should resume within several minutes. Call for service if the coil stays iced over, defrost runs constantly or the house gets cold.
How a heat pump repair and installation visit works, step by step
A diagnostic visit should follow a repeatable order so the technician finds the cause, not just the symptom. Knowing the order helps you tell a thorough visit from a part swap.
- Interview: what you noticed, when it started, how the system sounds and what you have already tried.
- Visual check: thermostat settings, filter, supply and return registers, the air handler, the condensate line and the outdoor unit.
- Electrical tests: breaker and disconnect, capacitor microfarad rating, contactor contacts, motor amperage and control voltage.
- Airflow and temperature: the temperature drop across the evaporator coil and, where needed, static pressure in the ductwork.
- Refrigerant checks: pressures, superheat and subcooling, and a leak search if the charge is low.
- A written finding: the cause, the repair options and what each one would fix, before any part is replaced.
Questions to ask before approving a repair
- Will you give me the findings and the scope in writing before work starts?
- What are my options: repair now, repair and monitor, or replace?
- What does the repair warranty cover and for how long?
- How old is the system and which refrigerant does it use?
- What failed, how did you confirm it and can you show me the part or the reading?
Mistakes that make AC problems worse
- Running a frozen system. Ice means airflow or refrigerant is wrong, and running it can damage the compressor.
- Putting off a small repair. A weak capacitor can take out a compressor if left alone.
- Adding refrigerant without finding the leak. The charge will drop again and the leak may grow.
- Ignoring a dirty filter. It is the most common cause of poor airflow and frozen coils.
- Setting the thermostat much lower to cool faster. An AC cools at a steady rate, so it only runs longer.
Safety and rules to know
Three hazards share one machine in an air conditioner: high-voltage electricity, pressurized refrigerant and moving parts. Opening electrical panels, bridging contactors and adding refrigerant are not jobs for homeowners, and capacitors can keep a charge after the power is off.
In the United States, anyone who buys or handles refrigerant must be certified under EPA Section 608, and refrigerant must be recovered and not vented. Ask the technician for their certification and check the contractor's licence with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (HVAC classifications).
Prepare your Memphis home before the technician arrives
- Check that the outdoor disconnect and the breaker are on, but do not open electrical panels
- Write down the sounds, smells, leaks or ice you have noticed, and when
- Set the thermostat to cool and note what it shows and what the house temperature is
- Clear weeds, leaves and debris from around the outdoor unit
- Replace or check the filter, and clear furniture from the return grille and the air handler
What shapes the written scope
Two AC calls that sound alike can be very different jobs. The written scope should say what the technician found and which of these factors applied.
Have the provider show the diagnostic and the repair as separate items, and list any parts, labor or follow-up that are left out.
- Whether the ductwork, return air or thermostat contributes to the problem
- The age, tonnage and refrigerant type of the system
- Access to the air handler in the attic or closet and to the outdoor unit
- Whether the fault is an electrical part, an airflow problem, a refrigerant leak or a drainage problem
- Warranty status of the parts and whether the equipment is registered with the manufacturer
What makes heat pump repair and installation different in Memphis
Hot, humid Mid-South summers with heat indexes often above 100 degrees; winters can bring ice storms. Humidity drives condensate drain clogs, sweating ducts, and mold in air handlers.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) is the local utility. Older homes in Midtown, Cooper-Young, Binghampton, and Whitehaven; newer homes in Cordova, Collierville, Germantown, and Bartlett. The diagnosis and the equipment recommendation for your address can both be shaped by these local conditions, so ask the technician how.
Heat pump repair and installation across Memphis and nearby cities
59 ZIP codes in Memphis, Tennessee fall within the area of Air Conditioning Repair Memphis: 37501, 37544, 38101, 38103, 38104, 38105, 38106, 38107, 38108, 38109. Requests may also go to providers who serve Ellendale, Germantown, Cordova and Collierville. Coverage depends on the address, so state your ZIP code on the call.
An independent HVAC contractor is one call away: use Call Now at the top of any page and describe the symptoms and the age of the system. The contractor confirms your address, then examines the system in person to diagnose it.
Related help in Memphis
If this is not quite your situation, these pages cover the neighboring questions: Heat Pump Defrost and Emergency Heat; Thermostat Installation; AC Installation; How to Lower Cooling Bills. The service area list shows every nearby city and ZIP code covered.
Heat Pump Repair and Installation in Memphis: common questions
Should I maintain a heat pump twice a year?
Yes: a spring visit covers cooling and a fall visit covers heating.
Why is my heat pump blowing cold air?
It could be in a defrost cycle, using too little heat, low on refrigerant or have a failed reversing valve. A diagnostic visit finds out which.
How long do heat pumps last?
With maintenance, often 10 to 15 years.
What is emergency heat?
Emergency heat is a manual setting where electric strips take over from the heat pump; it uses a great deal of electricity, so keep it temporary.
Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
Heat pumps built today do well in mild to cool climates, cold-climate models handle lower temperatures, and backup heat is usually included.
Is steam from the outdoor unit normal?
It does in defrost mode; the steam should end within a few minutes.