Quick answerHeat pump repair in Spokane usually starts at the outdoor unit: a defrost board or sensor that stops clearing ice, a reversing valve stuck in one mode, a failed fan motor or capacitor, or low refrigerant from a leak. A technician tests each in order and checks the thermostat's backup-heat settings, which cause many no-heat complaints on their own.
Updated September 2026
What goes wrong with heat pumps in winter
In heating mode, a heat pump pulls heat out of cold outdoor air, and the outdoor coil collects frost. Every so often it reverses briefly to melt that frost, which is the steam you may see rising off the unit.
We also look beyond the equipment. A thermostat configured for the wrong system, a lockout temperature set too high, or an outdoor unit sitting in drifted snow can all make a healthy heat pump look broken.
Heat pump faults we repair
Heat pump stuck in defrost
When a heat pump sits in defrost for long stretches, the house cools, the backup heat runs and the outdoor fan stays off. The usual causes are a failed defrost sensor on the coil, a bad defrost control board, or a defrost cycle triggered too often because the coil is low on refrigerant. We test the sensor resistance at the actual coil temperature, check the board's timing and outputs, and confirm the charge before replacing anything. A frosted sensor clip that slipped off its tube is a surprisingly common cause.
Reversing valve failure
The reversing valve switches the heat pump between heating and cooling. When its solenoid coil burns out or the valve sticks partway, the unit may blow cool air in heating mode, heat in cooling mode, or run with weak output either way. We test the solenoid and its control signal first, because a failed coil or a thermostat wired to the wrong terminal are much cheaper fixes than the valve itself. Replacing the valve body is a brazing job that requires recovering and recharging the refrigerant.
Outdoor unit iced over
A thin layer of frost that clears every hour or so is normal operation. A unit encased in solid ice is not. Besides defrost problems, the common causes are a failed outdoor fan motor, a stopped-up drain pan or base that refreezes melt water, gutter water pouring onto the unit, or drifted snow blocking airflow. Shut the unit to emergency or backup heat, do not chip the ice, and call. We fix the cause and, where the unit sits too low, raise it on a stand.
Compressor faults
A compressor that will not start, trips its breaker or runs hot and shuts off may have a failed start capacitor, a bad contactor or a damaged winding. We test all three before calling the compressor dead. If it has failed, the decision depends on age and refrigerant type. On a newer system under warranty, replacement of the compressor makes sense; on an older R-410A system, the cost of a compressor plus labor and refrigerant often points toward a new, matched system instead.
Signs your heat pump needs repair
How a heat pump repair visit runs
- 1
Check the thermostat
Mode, staging and backup lockout confirmed.
- 2
Look at the outdoor unit
Ice pattern, fan, snow and drainage checked.
- 3
Test defrost
Sensor and board tested at operating temperatures.
- 4
Test the valve
Solenoid and signal checked in both modes.
- 5
Check refrigerant
Pressures compared to the manufacturer chart.
- 6
Quote and repair
Price approved, part replaced.
- 7
Verify both modes
Heating and a forced defrost run before we leave.
Cold nights and snow on Spokane heat pumps
Spokane severe winters can reach minus 10, which is below where many standard heat pumps deliver useful heat, so some no-heat calls are really a unit working past its rating with backup heat set wrong. The city also gets most of its precipitation as winter snow, and outdoor units set low on a pad get buried by drifts and roof slides. Both problems are part of every heat pump call we run here.
What affects heat pump repair cost
Planning range: One 2026 cost guide puts a heat pump coil replacement at around $600 to $2,000 and a compressor replacement at about $800 to $2,800. These are published market figures from 2026-07, given for planning, with the on-site estimate as the real price.
Heat pump repair questions
Is it normal for my heat pump to have frost on it?
Light frost that clears every hour or so is normal. A unit that stays covered in solid ice needs service.
Why does my heat pump blow cool air in winter?
It may be in defrost, the reversing valve may be stuck, or it may be low on refrigerant. If it lasts more than 15 minutes, call.
Should I use emergency heat?
Yes, if the outdoor unit is iced solid or making grinding noises. It runs the backup heat only until we can repair the heat pump.
Which heat pump brands do you repair?
We work on the common brands, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Goodman and Daikin.
Is it worth repairing an older heat pump?
Under about 10 to 12 years, most repairs make sense. A failed compressor on an older unit usually points to replacement.
Other heat pumps & ductless services we handle
Heat Pump Maintenance
Seasonal service, fewer breakdowns.
Heat Pump Maintenance detailsDuctless Mini-Split Cleaning
Seasonal service, fewer breakdowns.
Ductless Mini-Split Cleaning in SpokaneDuctless Mini-Split Repair
Answered 24/7, parts on the truck.
How we handle ductless mini-split repairHeat pump frozen or blowing cold? call.
Call for heat pump repair in Spokane, WA at any hour.
