Charlottesville Heat Pump Repair — Locally Owned, Family Operated
Heat pump not cooling in summer, blowing cold in heating mode, iced over outside, or stuck on emergency heat? You don’t have to live with it — we’ll diagnose it today.
Same-day diagnostic + $50 off any repair — written estimate before any work. We service traditional, mini-split, and dual-fuel systems.
Local Charlottesville techs since 1960. Carrier, Trane, Mitsubishi, Daikin, Goodman, Lennox, Rheem — all major brands serviced.
Request $50 Off Heat Pump Repair
Same-day service often available. We’ll call you back within 30 minutes.
Or call us now: (434) 505-4780
My heat pump quit blowing warm air right when the cold snap hit. Otter Guys came out the same day, found the reversing valve was stuck, and walked me through the repair vs. replace math without any pressure. Fixed it that visit. The tech was a Charlottesville local — we even know some of the same people.
Why Charlottesville homeowners choose The Otter Guys for heat pumps
Heat pump specialists, not generalists
Heat pumps are different beasts from gas furnaces. Reversing valves, defrost cycles, refrigerant charge in two directions, dual-fuel logic with a backup furnace — our techs work heat pumps year-round — heating failures in January, cooling failures in July. We know the failure patterns Charlottesville’s swing-season climate creates.
Real diagnosis, every time
We don’t guess at heat pump problems. Refrigerant pressure check on both modes, reversing valve test, defrost board check, capacitor test, contactor test. You see what’s wrong before any repair happens. Written estimate first.
Repair vs. replace, told straight
If a simple capacitor swap fixes your heat pump, we’ll tell you that. If your older system needs a major repair and the rest is failing, we’ll show you the math honestly. All your options in writing — pick what works for your comfort and budget.
Repair Warranty
On all heat pump repairs and parts
Licensed & Insured
VA License #2705181379
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited business
Charlottesville’s Finest
Gold Award 2023–2025
Heat pump problems we fix every week
Blowing Cold in Heating Mode
Thermostat set to heat, vents blowing room-temp or cold air. Usually reversing valve, defrost board, or refrigerant issue. Diagnosable in one visit.
Iced Coil — Outside or Inside
Outdoor coil iced over in winter when the defrost cycle isn’t running. Indoor coil iced in summer from low refrigerant or a dirty filter. Don’t chip it off — fins bend easily. Defrost sensor, refrigerant charge, or filter check.
Stuck on Aux/Emergency Heat
Backup electric strips running constantly — your power bill spikes 2-3x. Compressor not engaging, outdoor sensor bad, or refrigerant low.
Won’t Turn On At All
Thermostat calls, nothing happens. Outdoor fan dead, indoor blower silent. Capacitor, contactor, control board, or thermostat — we test in order.
Loud Buzzing or Humming
Outdoor unit buzzes hard but won’t start, or hums and trips the breaker. Failed start capacitor or compressor lockout. Don’t keep cycling it.
Not Cooling / Blowing Warm Air
AC mode on, vents blowing room-temp or warm air in summer. Reversing valve stuck in heating, low refrigerant, failed outdoor capacitor, or frozen indoor coil. Don’t keep cycling it — the compressor pays for it.
What Charlottesville heat pump owners say
Andrew W. was the tech who came to my house. He was very pleasant, on time, and I feel the price for the work was fair. When I had price questions, Andrew walked me through exactly what he was going to do and what I was paying for. No surprises — everything was crystal clear.B. Costello
Devin did a thorough job evaluating our heat pump to ensure it was operating properly. He went above and beyond what we expected. Great service — we will definitely use Otter Guys in the future!Jamie R.
Michael was fantastic — taking the time to thoroughly assess my HVAC system and follow up on other home issues from his previous visit. Great service and staff. I will continue to use The Otter Guys in the future!AJ M.
How a heat pump repair visit works
Diagnose, both modes
Tech arrives, runs the system in heat AND cool mode, checks refrigerant pressures, tests the reversing valve, capacitors, contactors, defrost board. You see exactly what failed before any repair starts.
Written estimate, all your options
We hand you a written estimate covering the repair AND, if your system is older, the repair-vs-replace math. Some homeowners want the cheapest fix today; some want long-term efficiency. We give you both numbers and let you choose.
Repair, $50 off
Most heat pump repairs (capacitors, contactors, defrost boards, sensors, refrigerant) get done in the same visit. Larger jobs (compressor, reversing valve) get scheduled. $50 off any repair after diagnostic.
Heat pump issues don’t fix themselves — they get worse.
A failed defrost board lets winter ice build until the fan blade hits it and snaps. A weak capacitor lets the compressor lock up on a 95° afternoon. Stuck on aux heat doubles your power bill every day it runs — and a low refrigerant charge in summer freezes the indoor coil and drips water through the ceiling. We’ll diagnose the actual failure, give you all your options in writing, and take $50 off the repair.
Frequently asked questions
Same-day for most calls if you call by mid-morning. Charlottesville and Albemarle calls go on our local routes first. Call early for the best odds.
Most heat pump repairs run $400–$1,500. Capacitor $300–$450. Contactor $300–$450. Defrost board $500–$900. Reversing valve $1,200–$2,200. Refrigerant leak repair + recharge on R-410A: $500–$1,200. Compressor replacement: $2,500–$4,500. Diagnostic fee applies; $50 off any repair after diagnostic. Written estimate before any work.
Most common causes: (1) refrigerant leak — the most common cooling failure, (2) reversing valve stuck in heating mode, (3) failed outdoor capacitor (compressor won’t engage), (4) frozen indoor coil from low refrigerant or a dirty filter. We test all four in the diagnostic. If the outdoor unit won’t run at all in AC mode, it’s usually the capacitor or contactor — both are same-day fixes.
Most common causes: (1) reversing valve stuck in cooling mode, (2) refrigerant low — can’t produce heat, (3) defrost cycle stuck on, (4) thermostat wired wrong. We test for all four in the diagnostic. One caveat: heat pumps blow air that feels cool compared to a gas furnace because it’s 90–100°F vs. 130°F — that’s normal. If your vents are below 85°F with the thermostat calling for heat, something’s wrong.
Yes. 5–15 year financing with competitive rates, approved in about 2 minutes. Useful for larger heat pump repairs (compressor, reversing valve, full coil) that run $1,500–$4,500. Your tech walks through options during the visit.
If the repair cost is significant and the unit is over 12 years old, replacement usually makes more sense — new heat pumps are 30–50% more efficient and qualify for federal tax credits. Under that, repair almost always wins. R-22 systems (typically pre-2010) tilt earlier toward replacement — the refrigerant alone can cost more than many repairs. We’ll give you all your options in writing and let you pick what works best for your comfort and budget.
Heat pumps are confusing — they run year-round, they switch modes, they have backup heat that no one explains. Whatever’s going on with yours, we’ve seen it before right here in Charlottesville. We’ll figure out what’s wrong, tell you what it costs, and let you pick the path forward. No pressure, no upsell.