Original heat pumps
A heat pump from 2008 to 2012 is now 14 to 18 years old. In winter, older heat pumps lose capacity and lean harder on their electric backup strips, which shows up as higher power bills before anything breaks. A January bill that climbs every year is a sign the system is losing efficiency.
Two systems, two thermostats
Many homes here run one heat pump for each floor. The upstairs air handler usually sits in the attic, where winter air is close to the outdoor temperature, so it works harder than the downstairs unit. If only the upstairs is cold, tell the technician which thermostat controls it.
Signs something is wrong
- One floor cold while the other is fine
- Winter power bills rising year over year
- The outdoor unit ices over and stays that way
- Aux heat showing on the thermostat on mild days
Typical heat pump repair costs
| Repair | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit | $89 to $150 |
| Capacitor replacement | $150 to $400 |
| Defrost control board | $300 to $700 |
| Backup heat strip or sequencer | $250 to $700 |
| Reversing valve | $1,200 to $2,500 |
Should I replace both systems at once?
If both are original and one has failed, pricing both together often lowers the total, since the technician schedules one crew for both. If the other unit still runs well, replacing only the failed one is reasonable.
Read more about Heat pump repair across the area or HVAC in Briar Chapel.