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Heat Pump Diagnostics, Repair, Replacement and Tune-Ups for Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune Homes
Schedule Heat Pump Service (910) 340-7061Heat pumps are the default heating and cooling choice for Jacksonville homes. Our winters are mild enough that one system can cool the house all summer and heat it through January, so the same outdoor unit runs almost every month of the year. When it stops keeping up, Kennedy's Heating & Air Conditioning repairs and replaces heat pumps across Jacksonville, from Northwoods and Brynn Marr to Piney Green, Half Moon and the Camp Lejeune area.
We have served Onslow County since 2014, and we are the region's only Daikin Comfort Pro dealer. Our technicians service all major brands, install Daikin and Ducane systems, and diagnose the problem before quoting a repair, so you know the price before any work begins. Same-day service is available when your heat stops.
Schedule Heat Pump ServiceA heat pump problem in winter usually shows up as one of a short list of symptoms. Our technicians start with a full diagnosis of the outdoor unit, the indoor air handler, the thermostat and the electrical controls, then explain what failed and what it takes to fix it.
The same diagnostic process runs on every call we take, from our Richlands home base to Jacksonville, and our heat pump repair and maintenance page covers the warning signs in more detail.
Jacksonville winters are short and mild, but the cold, damp mornings bring out three things every heat pump owner here should understand.
On cold, damp mornings, frost forms on the outdoor coil. Every so often the heat pump reverses for a few minutes to melt it. During that defrost cycle the outdoor fan stops, you may see steam rising off the unit, and the vents can blow cooler air for a short time. That is the system working as designed. A coil that stays covered in thick ice, or a unit that never comes out of defrost, is not normal and needs a technician.
Inside the air handler, electric heat strips back up the heat pump. They come on automatically during defrost and on the coldest mornings, when the heat pump alone cannot hold the thermostat setting. Strip heat costs more to run than the heat pump, so it shows up on the Jones-Onslow EMC or Duke Energy Progress bill. If the auxiliary light stays on most of the day, the heat pump side usually has a problem. The emergency heat setting on the thermostat is meant for times when the outdoor unit is not working, not for everyday use.
Homes near the water pick up salt air that corrodes outdoor coils and electrical contacts faster than inland units. A heat pump runs its outdoor unit in both seasons, so it takes that exposure all year. Regular coil cleaning and a close look at the electrical connections on each visit keep corrosion from turning into a winter breakdown.
With regular maintenance a heat pump typically lasts 12 to 15 years, and coastal salt air can shorten that. When a system is near the end of that range and needs a major repair such as a compressor or a coil, replacement is often the better use of your money, and we will tell you plainly which way we would go.
A replacement starts with a load calculation for your home, a check of the existing ductwork and electrical service, and a conversation about ducted versus ductless. For homes without ductwork, additions and rooms the central system never reached, ductless mini-split heat pumps heat and cool room by room. As the region's only Daikin Comfort Pro dealer, we install Daikin heat pumps that use R-32 refrigerant, and we install Ducane systems as well. Our heat pump installation page shows the systems we put in.
Utility and state programs change through the year and differ by electric provider, so our guide to heat pump rebates in Onslow County lists what each program currently covers. Financing is available through Service Finance Company; see our HVAC financing options. Installation estimates are always free. If your home already has natural gas service, it is worth comparing a gas furnace and a heat pump before you decide.
Because a heat pump runs in both seasons, it should be serviced twice a year: once before cooling season and once before heating season. Our Champion plans include two visits a year on most tiers, reminder service and pre-season scheduling, and every tier carries a repair warranty. The heating-season visit checks the defrost controls, the backup heat strips, the reversing valve, refrigerant levels, the outdoor coil and the condensate drain. Compare the tiers on our heat pump maintenance plan page.
If it lasts a few minutes and you see steam rising off the outdoor unit, the heat pump is in its defrost cycle, which is normal on cold, damp mornings. If cool air continues for longer, check that the thermostat is set to heat. If it is, the cause is usually a reversing valve, a low refrigerant charge or a failed backup heat strip, and a technician should diagnose it.
The backup heat strips come on during defrost and on the coldest mornings, and that is normal. If the auxiliary or emergency heat light stays on most of the day, the heat pump itself is not keeping up and usually has a fault. Strip heat costs more to run, so a heat pump that leans on it all winter is worth a service call.
With regular maintenance a heat pump typically lasts 12 to 15 years, and coastal salt air can shorten that. If your system is in that range and needs a major repair such as a compressor or a coil, replacement usually makes more sense. Kennedy's diagnoses the problem first and gives you a clear price for the repair before you decide.
Yes. Kennedy's serves Camp Lejeune, Tarawa Terrace, Midway Park and the rest of the Jacksonville area, and our team is familiar with base access procedures and military housing. Call (910) 340-7061 to schedule heat pump service.
We repair and replace heat pumps throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding communities, including Northwoods, Brynn Marr, Stateside, Summersill, Piney Green, Half Moon, Midway Park and Tarawa Terrace.
For the rest of your system, see our furnace repair in Jacksonville, AC repair and installation in Jacksonville, and the full list of HVAC services in Jacksonville, NC.
Book Heat Pump Service Call (910) 340-7061Kennedy's Heating & Air proudly serves Richlands, Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune, and coastal North Carolina with comprehensive heating, cooling, and home comfort solutions
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Family-owned company serving Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune, and coastal North Carolina. Call today for expert HVAC service.
(910) 340-7061 Schedule OnlinePrimary Service Areas: Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune, Sneads Ferry, Surf City, North Topsail Beach, Topsail Beach, Holly Ridge, Richlands, Swansboro, Emerald Isle, Hubert, and throughout Onslow County and coastal North Carolina.
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