Heat pumps in Durham
South Durham's two-story homes from the 1980s onward often have two heat pumps, one for each floor. When one fails in January, the house stays partly warm, which gives you time to book a weekday repair. Note which thermostat controls the failed system so the technician knows which unit to check first.
In older neighborhoods north and west of downtown, many homes heat with gas furnaces, and some have added a heat pump that works alongside the furnace. That dual-fuel setup switches to gas on the coldest nights, so a heat pump problem there may only show up in mild weather.
Signs something is wrong
- One floor warm and the other cold in heat mode
- Ice that stays on the outdoor coil for more than an hour
- The heat pump running nonstop on a 45-degree day
- A shrieking or grinding sound when the system starts
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 |
My dual-fuel system only uses gas now. Is the heat pump broken?
Possibly. If the furnace runs on mild days above 40 degrees, the heat pump may have failed or the outdoor temperature sensor may be bad. A technician can check both in one visit.
Read more about Heat pump repair across the area or HVAC in Durham.