My Heat Pump Stopped Working. What Should I Do?
First, figure out what actually stopped. Heating, cooling, or airflow? Did it shut down after a strange noise, ice, or water? Check the thermostat's mode, fan setting, and setpoint, then look at the filter, vents, and outdoor unit from outside. If you can reach the breaker safely, check it once. Leave it off if it trips again, and don't open electrical panels, touch refrigerant lines, or keep resetting a breaker that keeps tripping. If you smell smoke or something burning, smell gas, suspect carbon monoxide, or see an immediate electrical hazard, leave the house and call 911 before you troubleshoot anything.
What to do when the heat pump stops
| What you notice | Safe first check | When to stop |
|---|---|---|
| Thermostat's calling but the system's silent | Confirm the mode, the setpoint, and that the display's on | Stop if the breaker trips again |
| Outdoor unit isn't running | Check the accessible disconnect or breaker position | Don't open the panel or touch wiring |
| Weak or no airflow | Check the filter and open your supply registers | Stop if you hear a burning smell or a loud fault noise from the blower |
| Ice on the outdoor unit or line | Turn heating or cooling off and note where the ice is | Don't chip the ice or try to force a defrost |
| Water near the indoor equipment | Turn the system off if water could reach electrical parts | Leave active electrical hazards to us |
| Gas smell, smoke, CO, or burning odor | Leave the house and call 911 or the gas utility | Don't troubleshoot the HVAC system first, get out |
Check the thermostat, filter, and airflow first
A heat pump can fail in one mode and seem fine in the other. Confirm whether the thermostat's calling for heat or cooling, whether the fan's set to Auto or On, and whether the display has power. Then check the filter, return grille, and supply registers. Weak airflow from every register points to a different problem than one blocked room.
See a tripped breaker? Follow the panel's safety instructions and reset it once, only if there's no burning smell or visible damage. If it trips again, leave it off. When you call us about emergency heat pump repair, tell us what the thermostat shows, whether the indoor blower moves air, and when the symptom began.
- Write down the thermostat mode, fan setting, and last thing you noticed change.
- Check the filter, returns, and registers without taking off any equipment panels.
- Don't remove the thermostat, test wires, or open the indoor or outdoor cabinet.
Look outside, then know when to stop
From outside the equipment, look for leaves, grass, snow, or other loose material pressed against the outdoor unit. Clear loose debris away without bending coil fins, spraying chemicals into the unit, or removing the service panel. If the system runs but the house still won't reach the setting, note the outdoor temperature, runtime, thermostat setting, and any unusual sound.
Light winter frost can clear during a normal defrost cycle, usually inside 5 to 10 minutes. Thick ice, ice that keeps returning, water near the indoor equipment, unusual noise, or a system that won't change modes needs a heat pump repair visit. Don't chip the ice, handle refrigerant, bypass controls, or test capacitors. We only talk replacement once we know the condition and the equipment's age.
- Turn the affected mode off if the outdoor coil is covered in thick ice.
- Turn the system off if water is spreading near indoor electrical equipment.
- Leave immediately for smoke, a burning electrical smell, gas, or a carbon-monoxide concern.
Questions that come up next
My Heat Pump Stopped Working. What Should I Do?
Check the thermostat mode, fan setting, and setpoint, then the filter and visible airflow. Check the breaker once if it's safe to reach. Stop and leave the house if you smell smoke, burning, or gas, suspect carbon monoxide, see the breaker trip repeatedly, or notice damaged wiring or another electrical hazard, and call 911.
Should I turn off a heat pump that's covered in ice?
Turn off the affected heating or cooling mode, and don't chip the ice or force a defrost. Light frost may clear during a normal, 5 to 10 minute defrost cycle, but thick or returning ice needs us to look at it.
Why did my heat pump stop again after I reset the breaker?
A reset can get things running again for a bit without fixing what tripped it in the first place. If the breaker trips again or the system stops again, leave it off and let us check the cause instead of resetting it again.
Need HVAC help in Frederick?
Tell us what the system is doing and what you've checked already. If it needs a visit, we'll say so.