Heat pump not heating
Defrost, reversing valve, or aux heat never kicking in.
If the outdoor unit is a block of ice for hours, that is not a healthy defrost cycle.
East Bay winters rarely drop below the range a modern heat pump handles. Ice on the outdoor unit can be a normal defrost cycle — or a failing sensor.
If the search that brought you here was “heat pump not heating,” start with a test, not a replacement pitch.
We watch a full defrost, check charge, and confirm the unit is actually in heat mode. Dual-fuel systems need the switchover setpoint checked, not guessed.
On this call we confirm the symptom you described — heat pump not heating — before we open a price book.
You approve any repair after the findings are written down. Diagnostic visits are a flat $69. New installation estimates are free in-home with a load calculation — not a number invented from square footage on Zillow.
Replacing a heat pump because it “doesn’t work below 40°F” is outdated. We test before we sell equipment.
A company that skips testing on heat pump not heating will skip it on the next call too. We would rather lose a job than install the wrong thing.
Related service page on this site: heat pump repair. The article you are reading is the explanation; that page is how to book the work.
OTTER HVAC is based at 2939 Santos Ln, Walnut Creek. Livermore, Livermore, and Danville are regular routes, along with the rest of our listed East Bay cities. Hours are 7am–5pm, seven days a week. We do not advertise 24/7 because we do not staff a night shift.
Inland heat (Pleasanton, Livermore, Concord) and marine air (Alameda, Daly City) are different loads. A note written for Livermore is not automatically right for a fog-belt house. We treat them that way.
Category on this guide: Heat pumps. Primary search phrase: heat pump not heating.
Call (650) 900-0440 or book online. Tell us the city, the symptom in one sentence, and the brand if you know it. If we have a window today, we will say so. If we do not, we will say that too.
Technicians are EPA 608, OSHA, and NATE certified. Public reviews average 5.0 stars across roughly 146 Google and 151 Yelp reviews. That does not replace a test on your unit.
Related service: Heat Pump Repair. Book a $69 diagnostic or a free install estimate. Hours: 7:00am–5:00pm, seven days a week. Shop: 2939 Santos Ln, Walnut Creek, CA 94597.
Related: All HVAC guides · Heat Pump Repair · Pricing and $69 diagnostic · Contact OTTER HVAC
Frequently asked questions
What do you test on a heat pump not heating visit?
We watch a full defrost, check charge, and confirm the unit is actually in heat mode. Dual-fuel systems need the switchover setpoint checked, not guessed. The visit is a flat $69. Repair work starts only after you approve the written findings.
Will you quote heat pump not heating from a photo?
No. We do not price heat pump not heating from a driveway photo. $69 diagnostic, then a quote — or a free in-home install estimate if replacement is the honest path.
Do you handle this in Livermore and Livermore?
Yes. We run Livermore, Livermore, and the rest of our East Bay list from 2939 Santos Ln, Walnut Creek. Hours are 7am–5pm every day — not 24/7. Call (650) 900-0440.
Explore related pages
References and credentials
- U.S. DOE Energy Saver
- EPA Section 608
- EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification
- U.S. Department of Energy — Energy Saver
Authority sources: U.S. DOE Energy Saver · EPA Section 608