The Region’s Fastest-Growing Heating System

Heat pumps went mainstream in Ottawa fast — rebate programs filled subdivisions with cold-climate units in just a few seasons — but the service network hasn’t kept up. Many owners are discovering their installer doesn’t do repairs, or books weeks out in January. We repair heat pumps year-round: heating faults in winter, cooling faults in summer, and the control problems that quietly shift your load onto expensive backup heat in between.

Every diagnosis covers the whole system — outdoor unit, refrigerant circuit, defrost cycle, indoor air handling and the controls deciding when auxiliary heat takes over.

Heat Pump Faults We See Most

Poor heat in a cold snap

Some capacity loss at extreme cold is physics — but a unit that can’t keep up at -10°C has a fault: refrigerant, defrost or airflow. We measure rather than shrug.

Outdoor unit encased in ice

Failed defrost controls or sensors. Running it iced bends fan blades and damages coils — shut it off and call.

Auxiliary heat running constantly

The silent hydro-bill killer: balance-point and control faults that let electric backup do work the heat pump should be doing.

Noisy outdoor unit

Fan motors, mounts and compressor sounds each have signatures — some benign, some urgent. We’ll tell you which honestly.

Cooling-season faults

The same machine is your summer AC — capacitors, contactors, refrigerant and condensate issues all covered.

Ductless mini-split faults

Blinking error codes, dripping heads, zones that won’t heat or cool — read properly with diagnostic gear, not guessed at.

Transparent Pricing

• Residential service call: $89 + tax — full on-site diagnostic and a written, fixed-price quote before any work.
• Commercial & gas-fired equipment: $129 + tax.
• After-hours (9 PM–7 AM): $100 flat emergency fee on top of regular rates.
• 3-month warranty on parts and labour.

Repair, Maintenance & Replacement

Seasonal heat pump maintenance — coils, filters, defrost, pressures, controls — protects both comfort and the hydro bill. When a compressor or refrigerant circuit makes repair uneconomical, you get a written replacement quote and a straight recommendation. See also AC repair, furnace repair, and the full HVAC Ottawa overview.

Ottawa Heat Pump Repair — FAQ

My heat pump ices up in winter. Is that normal?

Light frost is normal and defrost cycles should clear it. A unit encased in ice – or one that never seems to defrost – points at a defrost control, sensor or airflow fault, and running it that way damages the fan and coil.

Why is my electric bill huge since switching to a heat pump?

Usually the backup (auxiliary) heat is running far more than it should – a balance-point, sensor or control issue rather than a bad heat pump. The diagnostic sorts out which system is actually doing the work.

Do you service cold-climate heat pumps and ductless units?

Yes – central ducted systems, cold-climate models and wall-mounted ductless mini-splits, for heating and cooling faults alike.

What does heat pump repair cost in Ottawa?

The diagnostic is $89 + tax residential ($129 commercial) with a written quote before any repair. Common electrical repairs are modest; refrigerant-circuit and compressor work gets quoted clearly so you can weigh it against replacement.

Do you install or replace heat pumps?

We provide written replacement and installation quotes when a system has reached the end – and honest advice on whether a repair keeps you running for less.