Heat Pump Repair Cost: $161 to $661 + Ice and Defrost (2026)

Installed prices for units out of warranty. HomeAdvisor's 2026 average heat pump repair is $410.

Do this now: heat pump not heating or iced over

1. Thermostat: set it to HEAT with the fan on AUTO. Carrier says a thermostat on cool or constant fan blows cold air.
2. Breakers: reset the indoor and outdoor breakers and check the outdoor disconnect. Carrier says to call if they keep tripping.
3. Ice: turn the system off, clear snow from around the unit, and leave the ice alone. Lennox says never pour hot water on it or chip at it.
4. Stay warm: if the outdoor unit is not running, Carrier says you can switch to emergency heat, used sparingly because it raises the bill.
5. Protect the pipes while you wait. Open kitchen and bathroom sink cabinet doors and let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes (American Red Cross). Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from drapes, furniture and bedding, and never heat the house with the stove, a grill or a generator (CDC).

Is it urgent? Heat pump problems to call about today

A heat pump needs a call today when the house is losing heat in freezing weather or ice will not clear. Lennox says to call if the ice is still there after 6 to 8 hours, refreezes quickly, covers the refrigerant lines, or the outdoor fan will not spin. Carrier says ice thicker than 1/4 inch, or ice left after a defrost cycle, is not normal. A short burst of cool air with steam outside is a normal defrost and can wait.

How much does heat pump repair cost

Heat pump repair costs $410 on average in HomeAdvisor's 2026 data, with a typical range of $161 to $661 and extremes of $69 to $2,500. HomeGuide puts minor repairs at $150 to $650 and major ones at $650 to $2,500 or more. By type, HomeAdvisor puts air-source repairs at $200 to $1,600 and ductless mini split repairs at $100 to $1,500. A dead compressor is the big one: $800 to $3,500 in HomeAdvisor's figures.

Heat pump not heating: check these first

A heat pump that is not heating is often set wrong at the thermostat, short on airflow, or tripped at the breaker, according to Carrier. Check these before you call:

1. Thermostat mode. Carrier says a thermostat set to cool or constant fan will blow cold air. Set it to HEAT and the fan to AUTO.
2. Breakers and switches. Reset the indoor and outdoor breakers and check the outdoor disconnect and the air handler's power switch. Carrier says to call if they keep tripping.
3. Filter. Carrier says a clogged filter can shut the system down or make it blow lukewarm air; check it every 60 to 90 days.
4. Outdoor unit. Clear leaves, snow and debris. Carrier says to keep 24 inches clear around it; Lennox says 2 feet.
5. Emergency heat. If the outdoor unit is not running at all, Carrier says you can switch to emergency heat to stay warm, but to use it sparingly because electric resistance heat raises the bill.

If those check out, the likely causes need a technician: low refrigerant from a leak, a stuck reversing valve (Carrier says it may be stuck if the unit cools fine but heats poorly), or a failed defrost control. HomeAdvisor says a heat pump that will not turn on usually has a thermostat, breaker or fan switch problem, a $150 to $400 repair.

Heat pump blowing cold air

Some cool air is normal: Carrier says heat pump supply air is typically around 85 to 100 degrees F, cooler than a gas furnace's 120 to 140 degrees, so it can feel lukewarm on your hand. Cold air for a few minutes during a defrost cycle is also normal. Cold air all the time points to the thermostat set to cool or fan, a refrigerant leak, a reversing valve problem or leaky ducts (Carrier, HomeAdvisor). Carrier also says heat pumps lose efficiency below freezing and older units may need backup heat below about 25 to 30 degrees F.

Heat pump frozen or covered in ice

Light frost on a heat pump in winter is normal, but heavy ice that covers the unit or blocks the fan is a problem, says Lennox. Lennox lists the causes as a failed defrost control, timer or sensor, low refrigerant, restricted airflow from a dirty filter or snow, a clogged drain, freezing rain, and a failed reversing valve or outdoor fan motor. HomeAdvisor says the most common reasons a heat pump will not defrost are a faulty defrost timer or a broken reversing valve, and puts the repair at $90 to $650.

What to do, per Lennox: turn the system off at the thermostat, check and replace the indoor filter, clear snow away from the unit and brush light snow off the top. Never pour hot water on it, because the sudden temperature change can crack components, and do not chip at the ice, because tools can damage the coils, fins and fan blades. Call if the ice has not melted in 6 to 8 hours, refreezes quickly, sits on the refrigerant lines, or the outdoor fan will not spin. If the house is losing heat fast in freezing weather, see emergency HVAC repair.

Heat pump defrost mode: what is normal

Defrost mode is the heat pump briefly reversing to warm its outdoor coil and melt frost, then switching back to heat, according to Trane. Trane says it can start when it is in the low 40s F but is more common in the 20s and 30s, and Lennox says units defrost every 30 to 90 minutes in those conditions.

If defrost cycles keep repeating or get longer while ice builds, Trane says to call.

Repair or replace a heat pump

HomeAdvisor's "$5,000 rule" says to replace the outdoor unit when the repair cost times the unit's age in years is over $5,000. HomeGuide says replacement is often better when the repair is more than 50% of the cost of a new unit or the heat pump is over 10 to 15 years old. HomeAdvisor says the average heat pump lasts about 14 years and newer ones 20 or more. A compressor at $800 to $3,500 on an older unit is the usual tipping point; see heat pump installation cost for replacement prices, which HomeAdvisor puts at $4,200 to $7,900 for a full replacement.

Heat pump repair near me: what to ask

Heat pump work involves refrigerant, so the technician must hold EPA Section 608 certification. In California, CSLB says the license class for HVAC heat pumps is C-20. The HVAC license table covers six states. Ask:

• What is the diagnostic fee? HomeGuide puts it at $75 to $200, and some companies apply it to the repair.
• If it needs refrigerant, where is the leak? The DOE says refrigeration systems should be leak-checked at installation and at each service call.
• Is the part under warranty? Ask before paying for a compressor or board.
• Is a maintenance plan worth it? HomeGuide puts a tune-up at $70 to $200 and a plan at $120 to $360 a year.

Ductless units are covered in mini split installation, and summer problems in AC not cooling. If you have a gas furnace as backup, furnace repair covers that side. Heat pump repair is one line in home repair costs. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. How calls work.