Heat Pump Repair in San Francisco, CA
If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers San Francisco County will get in touch.
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Seven months of steady, mild-weather duty
Your heat pump runs November through May here, close to seven months a year. Winter nights average 45°F, which is mild for a heat pump, but it means the system is cycling on and off for months at a stretch rather than running hard for a few weeks. Each cycle puts a start on the compressor and the reversing valve, and those parts are what tend to wear first.
San Francisco County has had 50 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like that knock out power. Most heat pumps restart on their own once power is back, but if yours does not turn back on after an outage, or it is running constantly without warming the house, that points to a problem worth having looked at.
- 7 months
- November through May, your system heats
- 45°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 70°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
California requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The license is issued to the contractor, not to this specific repair. California's Contractors State License Board tests and records the person or company, and that record follows them from job to job rather than getting renewed for each one.
For a heat pump repair, the part of the job that matters most is the refrigerant line, and that is covered separately. Any technician who opens the refrigerant side of your system, in California or anywhere else, has to hold EPA Section 608 certification. That's a federal requirement, not something the state license replaces or includes.
Sources: California Legislative Counsel · Contractors State License Board
- Why is my heat pump blowing cold air?
- In heating mode, air coming out of the vents that feels cool to the hand can still be warmer than the room, since a heat pump moves heat rather than burning fuel for it. If the air is actually cold, check that the thermostat is set to heat and not fan only. A frozen outdoor unit, a low refrigerant charge, or a failed reversing valve will also stop it from warming the air. Any of those needs a licensed contractor to check.
- Why is there ice on my heat pump?
- Some frost on the outdoor unit during a cold snap is normal, and the system defrosts itself on a cycle built into the controls. Heavy ice that does not clear points to a problem. A dirty coil, a fan that has stopped turning, or a refrigerant leak can all cause it. San Francisco winter nights average 45°F, cold enough for normal frost to form most nights from December through February, so ice by itself is not the concern. What matters is whether it melts off on its own within a few hours.
- Why is my heat pump running but not cooling?
- First check the air filter, since a clogged one chokes off airflow and can make the system run without much effect. If the filter is clean, the problem is usually inside the unit. A low refrigerant charge, a dirty outdoor coil, or a failing compressor are the usual causes. A licensed contractor can check refrigerant levels and airflow to find which one it is.