Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air in Columbia, SC
Most Midlands homes run heat pumps, so this is the regional equivalent of "no heat" - and it isn't always a fault, which is worth ruling out first.
What usually causes this
- Normal operation - heat pumps deliver air that's warm but cooler than a gas furnace's; this alone isn't a problem
- Stuck in defrost mode longer than normal, often paired with ice on the outdoor unit
- A failed reversing valve, which can leave the system stuck cooling even when set to heat
- The system has dropped to auxiliary strip heat and stayed there - watch for a sharp jump in the power bill
What to do before someone arrives
- If the outdoor unit is fully encased in ice and not clearing on its own, that's a fault, not normal defrost - don't chip the ice off
- Note whether it's mildly cool air (often normal) or genuinely cold air (usually a fault) when you call
Questions people ask
My heat pump's outdoor fan stopped and steam is coming off it - is that a problem?
That's usually just a normal defrost cycle clearing frost that built up in cold, damp weather - it should resume heating within 10 to 15 minutes. It's only a concern if it stays iced over well past that.
Send us the details
We pass them straight to a licensed local HVAC contractor who handles heat pump repair. There is no cost to you.
Also see: Heat Pump Repair in Columbia, SC
Tell us what your system is doing
Send us the details and we will pass them to a licensed local HVAC contractor.