Homeowners in Salem, Corvallis, Albany, and across the Willamette Valley rely on Day Heating for heat pump repair, installation, replacement, and maintenance. We install Bryant heat pumps as a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, and we service the heat pumps already in your home. Call 503-363-4822 or request service online to schedule heat pump service.
Headquartered in Salem, OR | Oregon CCB #1090 | Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer | 4.8 from 240+ Google Reviews
Heat Pump Repair When It Won't Heat, Cool, or Keeps Icing Up
Our technicians repair heat pumps that blow cold air in heating mode, struggle to reach the temperature on the thermostat, ice over, run constantly, short cycle, make odd noises, or send your electric bill up. Most heat pump repairs trace back to a short list of parts: the reversing valve, defrost control board and sensors, contactor, capacitors, fan motors, and refrigerant leaks. We test the system to find the cause before replacing anything, and you get a quote before any work begins.
One customer wrote that our technician traced a daughter's failing heat pump to its outdoor thermostat after other companies had been out and missed it. When a repair no longer makes sense, we say so and walk through replacement options instead.
Heat Pump Installation and Replacement
Replacing an aging heat pump, or switching from a furnace and air conditioner to one system that does both, starts with a visit to your home. We check the size of the house, the condition of the ductwork, and your electrical capacity, then give you a written proposal that spells out the equipment and the work. We install Bryant heat pumps for ducted homes, set up ductless heat pump systems for rooms and additions without ductwork, and pair a heat pump with a furnace in a dual fuel system when that suits the home.
Installation includes removing the old equipment, setting the new outdoor and indoor units, and testing the system before we leave. Ask about financing and about current utility incentives when you request an estimate, so the upfront cost does not decide the timing for you. Not sure whether a heat pump is the right fit? Our guide compares a heat pump and a furnace.
Heat Pump Maintenance and Tune-Ups Before Winter
A heat pump runs for both heating and cooling, so it works nearly year-round and wears faster than a furnace that sits idle all summer. A tune-up covers the indoor and outdoor coils, refrigerant charge, defrost controls, reversing valve, electrical connections, airflow, and condensate drain, along with the cleaning that keeps the system efficient. A visit before the first cold stretch is the easiest way to catch a failing part before it fails in January.
Long-time customers book the same technician year after year, and one Salem homeowner has kept the same technician on their system for seven or eight years. A preventative maintenance plan keeps the visits on the calendar, and a clean system also helps your indoor air quality.
How a Heat Pump Heats Your Home in Oregon Winters
A heat pump does not burn fuel to make heat. In winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air and moves it inside, and in summer it reverses and moves heat from your house outdoors. Because it moves heat instead of creating it, a heat pump can deliver more heating energy than the electricity it uses, which is why it costs less to run than electric resistance heat.
On the coldest nights, a heat pump's output drops and backup heat helps carry the load. That backup is usually electric heat strips inside the air handler, or a furnace in a dual fuel setup. Frost also builds on the outdoor coil in cold, damp weather, so the system periodically switches into a defrost cycle to melt it.
Heat Pump Questions From Salem-Area Homeowners
Why is my heat pump not heating my home?
Start with the thermostat. Make sure the display is on and set to “Heat,” not “Emergency Heat.” Next, check that the breakers are on for both the outdoor heat pump and the indoor air handler or furnace. Then pull the air filter and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see through it, a clogged filter may be the whole problem or a contributing factor. Beyond those checks, the usual causes are a dirty outdoor coil choking off airflow, a slow refrigerant leak, or a control board that glitches after a power blip, which happens often during the valley’s winter storms. If the house still isn’t warming up, call us and we’ll take a look.
Why is my heat pump blowing cold air in winter?
A few minutes of cooler air during the defrost cycle is normal, and the outdoor fan often stops during the cycle. When frost builds on the outdoor coil, the system briefly reverses to melt it, and the outdoor unit may release a cloud of vapor that looks like smoke. Damp, near-freezing mornings are when frost forms most readily, which describes much of a Willamette Valley winter. If cold air keeps coming from the vents after defrost should have finished, check that the thermostat is set to Heat and the filter is clean. If the air stays cool, the cause could be low refrigerant, a stuck reversing valve, or a defrost control problem, and that needs a technician.
What is emergency heat, and when should I use it?
Emergency heat is a thermostat setting that shuts off the heat pump and runs only the backup heat, usually electric strips, which cost much more to run. It is meant for a heat pump that has stopped working while you wait for repair. If the thermostat shows “aux heat” during a cold snap, that is the backup helping the heat pump and does not mean something is wrong. If aux heat runs constantly in mild weather, call us.
Why is there ice on my heat pump’s outdoor unit?
A light coat of frost that melts away during defrost is normal in cold, damp weather. A thick block of ice, ice that stays for hours, or ice on the coil in cooling mode points to a problem such as a failed defrost control, a blocked coil, low refrigerant, or poor airflow. Do not chip the ice, because you can puncture the coil. Turn the system off and call us.
What heat pump noises are normal, and which ones mean trouble?
Some noise is normal: a soft whoosh from the fan, a click when the defrost cycle kicks on, a brief whir at startup. Grinding, buzzing, rattling, or loud banging are not. Those usually mean something is loose, a fan motor bearing is failing, or ice is throwing the outdoor fan off balance, which we see more often after a hard freeze. Give us a call before a new noise turns into a bigger repair.
At what temperature does a heat pump stop working?
Most modern heat pumps keep heating well below freezing, and cold-climate models are built to keep going far colder than a typical Salem or Corvallis winter delivers. What changes as it gets colder is output: the heat pump delivers less heat, and the backup heat may run to make up the difference, which can raise your power bill. If your system seems to give up at temperatures well within its range, it may be undersized, iced over, or low on refrigerant, and a technician can tell you which.
How long do heat pumps last, and should I repair or replace mine?
Air-source heat pumps typically last about 10 to 20 years, with 15 years the average. A heat pump in that range that needs a major repair such as a compressor, or breaks down every season, is usually better replaced than patched. Newer or less costly repairs are often worth making. We give you the repair quote and the replacement option side by side so you can decide.
Can a heat pump replace my furnace and air conditioner?
In many Willamette Valley homes it can, because a heat pump handles both heating and cooling. Whether it can carry the whole house depends on the size of the home, the ductwork, and how comfortable you want the coldest nights to be. We measure the home first, then tell you whether a heat pump alone, a ductless addition, or a dual fuel system with a furnace fits best.
Schedule Heat Pump Repair, Installation, or a Tune-Up
Whether your heat pump has stopped working or you are planning a replacement, our team is ready to help. Call 503-363-4822 or request service online to schedule heat pump service for your home.
A word of appreciation to Day Heating following our annual maintenance visit by Alan. Alan is a positive representative on behalf of DH. We’ve been DH customers since 1976 (rural Amity)when Richard installed our first heat pump, a second pump 15 yrs later at Amity – and now (south of Salem) annual maintenance. Alan was on time, thorough examining our machine and did not seem to be ill at ease with me hanging around visiting while he worked. Please thank him for a job well done.
– Richard S.
“Day heating is remarkably efficient. After we discovered our heat pump was not working, we requested an estimate from Day Heating, based on reviews in Angie’s List. The estimator was punctual, and thoroughly explained why the system he recommended would best meet our needs. He explained all the rebates, verified that we had sufficient electrical capacity, and scheduled the installation for three days later. The installer arrived on time and installed the new one by the afternoon. We had electric heat that evening, and used it for the next day and a half until the compressor was installed. They sent the specialists needed when needed, and they worked until their part of the job is complete. It would be hard to overstate how fast and competent these individuals are. The building inspector was scheduled promptly by Day Heating, and they made a follow-up visit after the inspection. The overall results are terrific. The new system has a ten year warranty. It is very quiet and the house is comfortable. Day Heating is a quality company.”
– Chris H.
“I am past due in telling you what a great job you and your team did replacing our 22 year old HP system and installing our new heat pump and furnace. Earlier in my career, I was a heat pump installation inspector for an electric utility’s heat pump program. Our job was to insure that the units were installed correctly with proper airflows etc. I was introduced to Day Heating by a Service Tech-Charlie who finally figured out what was wrong with my daughters unit. Charlie was the 1st tech that I had encountered (several other companies had been out under her home warranty program) that 1- actually knew what absolute zero was- he told me (I didn’t bring it up to him), and 2- knew how to actually test the outdoor stat on her unit and determine that was the problem (I had suspected and pointed this out to the other techs). In 2012 I had several companies give me bids for our replacement. YOU were the only one that followed up. In April of 2013 we decided it was time especially with the Federal Rule change regarding gas furnace efficiency. I found your previous emails and contacted you. You promptly responded and came back out to our home to update the bid. We agreed upon the equipment and price on a Monday and work began on Wednesday! Your crews were top notch. On time, neat, knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. The system is QUIET. I have to put my hand over a duct to feel if it is on! It kept us warm during the few cool days in May and has kept us COOL in these 90 degree days that we have had in June. We actually set the temp at 71 on Wed and Thurs because of the humidity. THE UNIT PULLED IT DOWN AND MAINTAINED THAT, even on Friday and Sat. I will let you know how it does in the high 90’s on Sun-Tues. The house is even more comfortable than before. I think the new return and kitchen supply really helped. We are very happy with our purchase.”
– Steve S.