HVAC
Heat pump repair and replacement in Tampa Bay
Most Tampa Bay homes heat and cool with a heat pump, so one system has to work in every season. Ground Up repairs and replaces heat pumps, including reversing valve, defrost, and emergency heat problems. If yours isn't heating or cooling right, call or text 727-732-4357.
Updated
- 30+ years in the building industry
- 24/7 emergency line, nights, weekends, holidays
- 2 Florida state licenses: Plumbing CFC1431937, A/C CAC1817931
- Tampa Bay Plumbing and A/C, one call for both trades
01 — What we do
What we do with heat pumps
A heat pump is an A/C that can run in reverse. We service both sides of it.
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Cooling-mode repairs
We handle the same problems as any A/C: capacitors, contactors, drain lines, refrigerant leaks, and airflow.
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Heating-mode repairs
We diagnose reversing valves, defrost controls, and sensors when the system won't switch over to heat.
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Emergency and aux heat
We check the backup electric heat strips and controls so they're ready on cold mornings.
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Heat pump replacement
We size a new heat pump with a load calculation and install a matched system.
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Thermostat setup
We make sure your thermostat is set up for a heat pump so it doesn't lean on backup heat when it doesn't need to.
02 — Signs
When your heat pump isn't keeping up
Heat pump problems often show up the first time the weather turns.
- It blows cool air when set to heat
- The thermostat shows emergency or aux heat running all the time
- The outdoor unit is caked in ice and doesn't clear itself
- A new or louder whoosh or bang when it switches modes
- The power bill jumps during a cold week
- It works in one mode but not the other
Local
Heat pumps and Florida's mild winters
Heat pumps are the most common heating and cooling setup in Florida homes. They make sense here because winters are mild and the system spends most of the year cooling. The same equipment that runs your A/C in summer reverses to heat the house on the handful of cold days we get.
Because heat mode gets used so rarely, problems with it often go unnoticed until the first cold snap. A reversing valve, defrost board, or heat strip can fail quietly over the summer. If you can, switch to heat for a few minutes in the fall to make sure it works before you need it.
Emergency or aux heat uses electric strips, which cost much more to run than the heat pump itself. It's meant as backup. If your thermostat shows it running on mild days, something is off with the heat pump or the thermostat setup, and it's worth a service call.
03 — Process
How a heat pump service call goes
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Tell us the symptoms
Let us know whether the problem is in heating, cooling, or both. We'll tell you when we can get there.
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Check both modes
We test the system in cooling and heating and check the backup heat.
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Repair or replace
We explain what failed and your options. If replacement makes sense, we size the new system properly.
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Confirm it works
We run the system through its modes and check the thermostat settings before we leave.
Licensed for this work in Florida: Certified Plumbing Contractor CFC1431937 · Certified Air Conditioning Contractor CAC1817931. Financing available. Ask us.
Why is my heat pump blowing cold air on heat?
First, check that the thermostat is set to heat and not just fan. During defrost the outdoor unit briefly stops heating, which can feel cool for a few minutes. If it keeps blowing cool air, the reversing valve, defrost controls, or refrigerant charge may be the problem. Call us to diagnose it.
What's the difference between emergency heat and aux heat?
Aux heat comes on automatically to help the heat pump when it can't keep up. Emergency heat is when you manually switch to the backup electric strips, usually because the heat pump has failed. Both cost more to run. Use emergency heat only as a stopgap until the heat pump is repaired.
Is it normal for my heat pump to have ice on it in winter?
A light frost that clears during the defrost cycle is normal on cold, damp mornings. A thick block of ice that doesn't go away is not. That points to a defrost problem, low refrigerant, or an airflow issue. Turn the system off to protect it and call us.
Quote request
Get a quote: Heat pumps
Tell us what's going on and how to reach you. A licensed tech (not a call center) gets back to you.
Need help right now? Call 727-732-4357. We answer 24/7.
Want to add photos or pick a time? Use the full contact form.
Talk to a licensed plumber or A/C tech
Call or text and tell us what's going on. Not urgent? Send a quote request or pick a time that works for you.
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