Heat Pump Repair

Heat Pump Acting Up? It Gets Read Properly.

Weak heat, iced over outside, or running nonstop and the house still will not get there. A heat pump has a few normal quirks and a few real faults, and they can look the same from the thermostat. We come out, measure how it is actually running, and tell you what is wrong before any repair. Call or text and we will get on it.

HVAC Repair Equipment Installation Clear Written Scope
Call 301-355-2238 Tell Us About Your HVAC Needs

What Heat Pump Repair Covers

A heat pump puts out air that feels cooler than a furnace even when it is heating the home just fine. That alone does not mean something is broken. We look at the room temperature, the weather outside and the actual readings to know for sure.

Defrost, refrigerant, airflow or the thermostat may explain the problem. We distinguish normal operation from a fault on residential air-source equipment. If the system uses oil backup, your oil provider handles all oil-furnace service.

What This Covers

  • Cooling and heating mode diagnosis, because a heat pump can fail in one direction and work in the other
  • Reversing valve testing, including valves that stick partway and leave the system in neither mode cleanly
  • Defrost board, defrost sensor, and defrost cycle faults that leave the outdoor coil iced over
  • Auxiliary and emergency heat strip testing, sequencers, and the relays that bring them on
  • Refrigerant performance checked using equipment-specific procedures and suitable operating conditions
  • Outdoor unit airflow: coil cleaning, fan motor faults, and clearance problems
  • Thermostat compatibility, because many heat pump complaints trace to a thermostat that cannot control one
  • Backup-heat settings checked against the equipment and current conditions

Signs Your Heat Pump Needs a Look

  • The outdoor unit stays covered in ice instead of clearing itself periodically
  • Emergency or auxiliary heat is on constantly and the electric bill has climbed
  • The system cools fine in summer but won't heat in winter, or the reverse
  • It runs continuously in mild weather without satisfying the thermostat
  • A loud clunk or a long hiss when the system changes between heating and cooling
  • The outdoor fan runs but the house isn't getting conditioned air

How We Work a Heat Pump Call

We establish what normal looks like for your system

We compare expected performance with the current conditions and the home temperature. Normal defrost or backup operation needs to be distinguished from a fault.

We test it in both directions

We test the relevant operating modes when weather, equipment condition and safety permit. Any untested mode is identified in the findings.

We check whether auxiliary heat is masking the problem

Backup heat may be operating normally or masking a heat-pump problem. We check the heat-pump thermostat and settings and explain any further assessment needed. Oil-furnace faults and combustion checks remain with your oil provider.

We repair and confirm through a full cycle

The verification follows the diagnosed fault. A defrost concern may require a manufacturer-approved test or further observation, and we explain what was confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some frost can occur during heating and be cleared by defrost. Persistent heavy ice or lost heat needs assessment.
Natural-gas or propane furnace faults can be assessed within an agreed scope. An oil furnace remains the responsibility of your oil provider, even when paired with a heat pump.
Only use the thermostat according to your equipment instructions. Not every installation has the same backup configuration. Contact a professional rather than apply a universal setting change.
Not necessarily. Comfort and measured performance must be checked against the operating conditions, rather than judged by touch alone.
It changes refrigerant flow so the heat pump can switch between heating and cooling. Testing is needed to distinguish a valve problem from a control or refrigerant issue.
No. The confirmed fault, condition, parts and heating requirements should be assessed before comparing repair with replacement.
We serve homeowners in Germantown, Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village. Call or text with the full service address and the work you need so we can confirm the request.
It comes down to three things: how old the system is, what the repair costs against the value of the whole unit, and how well it has been keeping up. Once a system is past its teens and the repairs start stacking, replacement usually makes more sense. We look at yours and tell you straight which way we would go if it were our own home, with no pressure either way. Call or text 301-355-2238 and we will walk through it.
The ones we install do. Today's cold-climate heat pumps are built to heat through our winters, and many homes run one as the main system with the existing furnace left in place as backup for the very coldest nights. We size it for real Maryland weather, not a brochure.

Heat Pump Repair Across Germantown, Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village

We serve homeowners in Germantown, Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village.

Get a Quote

Tell Us
What You Need.

Tell us what the system is doing and where you are. A few photos from a safe spot help us get ahead of it before we arrive.

1
Tell us what is happeningWhat it is doing and when it started. A photo of the thermostat screen or the outdoor unit helps.
2
We call you backWe ask a few questions about the system and set up a time to come out.
3
You see it in writingYou get the work and the price in writing before we start. Sending this does not lock in an appointment on its own.
RepairFind the problem
ReplaceCompare the options
MaintainCare for your system
Ask anything before you decide. We tell you what we found and what we think it needs, in plain words, and you choose from there.

Or just give us a call.

301-355-2238

Call or text us about the heat or the AC

Clear answers. Clear scope.

Know what you are approving.

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Customer Feedback

Verified Google reviews, 5.0 from 44

RN
Robert Nicolay
September 2026

"This is a good company. They helped me out with my new hvac equipment for three systems in the home. The systems where over 20 years old."

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WT
Wesley Thompson
August 2026

"Jay and Jacob were amazing getting my HVAC system operating correctly. Other companies probably would've said I need a new system but they took the time to diagnose the issues, addresses them, and went above and beyond getting the system in tip-top shape. They easily put 40 hours into the project to get it in order working well into the evenings and nights to ensure the home is comfortable. They will be my go-to for home services moving forward."

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MG
Marvin Garcia
September 2026

"The crew at Mora Heating & Air is always a pleasure to work with. What I really appreciate is that they truly understand home improvement from top to bottom. One of the biggest advantages for me is that they also specialize in HVAC, so you're not only getting a company that can handle renovations and repairs, but also understands the heating and cooling systems that are such an important part of your home. It's great being able to rely on one knowledgeable team for so many different needs. I'll definitely continue using for all of my home improvement and HVAC needs!"

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