Heat Pump Repair in Starkville, MS
Homes here need heat from November through March and cooling from May through September. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Oktibbeha County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Ten months of work a year on your heat pump
Your heat pump runs from November through March to keep the house warm, then switches over and runs May through September to keep it cool. That is ten months out of the year with only a short break in between. Winter nights here average 35°F, mild enough that the heat pump can usually handle it alone, and summer afternoons average 91°F, which means long cooling runs all season.
That much run time adds up on the parts that cycle the most, the reversing valve that switches between heat and cool, and the outdoor unit that runs through both extremes. Most homes here heat with electricity, so when the heat pump falters in December, there is often nothing else warming the house. With 91 damaging wind events recorded in this area over the past ten years, outdoor units also take a beating from debris and storm damage that can bend fins or knock components loose.
- 5 months
- November through March, your system heats
- 5 months
- May through September, it cools
- 35°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 91°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Mississippi requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The license belongs to the contractor, not to the job, so it tells you the State Board of Contractors tested that business and keeps a record of it. It does not mean anyone signed off on this particular repair.
A heat pump repair means opening the refrigerant side of the system, and that requires the technician to hold EPA Section 608 certification. That is a federal requirement, the same in every state, separate from whatever Mississippi does with its own license. The state license accounts for the contractor. The federal certification accounts for the person handling the refrigerant.
Source: Mississippi State Board of Contractors
- Why is my heat pump blowing cold air?
- In heating mode, air from the vents is warm compared to the room, but it will still feel cooler than air from a furnace. If it feels cold rather than mild, the system may have switched into defrost or backup heat isn't kicking in when it should. A stuck reversing valve will also send the system into cooling mode by mistake, even in the middle of winter. A contractor can check the reversing valve and the backup heat strips to find out which one it is.
- Why is there ice on my heat pump?
- A thin layer of frost during a defrost cycle is normal, especially on cold nights when temperatures drop into the 30s. Thick ice that stays on the coil means the defrost cycle isn't clearing it, or airflow across the coil is blocked. Low refrigerant, a failing defrost control board, or a dirty coil can all cause this. Running the unit with heavy ice built up can damage the compressor, so it's worth having someone look at it before the next cold snap.
- Why is my heat pump running but not cooling?
- If the outdoor unit and indoor blower are both running but the air isn't cold, the system likely isn't moving refrigerant the way it should. A dirty filter or blocked outdoor coil can restrict airflow enough to cause this, especially during a 91°F afternoon when the system is working hardest. Low refrigerant from a leak is another common cause, and that requires an EPA-certified technician to check and repair since it means opening the refrigerant side of the system. A contractor can check the coils, the filter, and the refrigerant charge to find where the problem is.