ServicesHeat Pumps
Heat Pumps in Fairfield, WA
We install and repair heat pumps that keep heating well into a hard winter freeze and cool your home through dry July heat. You get an honest sizing answer, a written quote before any work begins and help claiming the rebates and tax credits you qualify for.
One System for Heating and Cooling
A heat pump does not burn anything to warm your home. It carries heat from one place to another. During the heating season it draws warmth out of the outside air, even when that air feels cold, and delivers it indoors. Come summer, the flow reverses and the same equipment cools your home the way central air does. That approach can lower your heating costs and replace an aging AC in one project.
Older heat pumps earned a poor reputation in cold country because they gave up when temperatures dropped. Current cold-climate models with variable-speed compressors keep producing useful heat at temperatures common in a Fairfield January. For the coldest nights, we often pair the heat pump with a furnace or electric backup so your home stays comfortable without the system straining.
If your home has no ducts, or you want to heat a single addition or shop, our Ductless Mini-Splits page covers that option. This page is about whole-home systems.
What Our Heat Pump Work Includes
A load calculation, not a guess
We measure your rooms, look at insulation, windows and attic conditions, and size the system to your home. An oversized unit short-cycles and leaves rooms clammy; an undersized one leans on backup heat all winter.
Cold-climate equipment selection
We recommend models rated to hold capacity in low temperatures and explain the efficiency ratings in plain terms. You see the trade-offs between a few options, not a single take-it-or-leave-it unit.
Outdoor unit set for snow and wind
The outdoor unit goes on a raised stand or wall bracket so drifting snow and defrost meltwater cannot bury the coil. We place it where ice will not drip from the roofline onto it and where you can still reach it to clear snow.
Dual-fuel and backup heat setup
When a furnace stays in place, we wire the controls so the system switches to it at the temperature that makes sense for your fuel costs. Electric backup is configured so it helps only when it is truly needed.
Permits, startup and a walkthrough
We pull the required permits, check refrigerant charge and airflow at startup, and show you how the thermostat and defrost cycle behave. You know what is normal before the first cold snap.
Repairs on existing heat pumps
We diagnose and repair reversing valves, defrost controls, compressors, fan motors and refrigerant leaks. If repair no longer makes sense, we tell you plainly.
When Your Heat Pump Needs a Look
- Ice that stays put
- Light frost that clears during defrost is expected. A coil locked in solid ice for hours suggests a bad defrost control, low refrigerant or restricted airflow.
- Backup heat on all the time
- When the thermostat shows auxiliary or emergency heat for most of the day, the heat pump isn't pulling its weight. The electric bill usually shows it before anything else.
- Barely warm air while heating
- Heat pump air is gentler than furnace air, yet it should still feel warm at the vent. Cool air may mean a stuck reversing valve or a refrigerant fault.
- Grinding or rattling outside
- A whoosh during defrost is normal. Grinding, banging or a constant buzz from the outdoor unit is not, and checking it early can keep a small part from turning into a compressor job.
- An aging AC and a tired furnace
- When both units are getting old, a heat pump with one of them kept or upgraded as backup is often the smarter long-term choice.
How a Heat Pump Installation Runs
- 1
Free in-home estimate
Estimates are free on installations and replacements. We walk the house, look at your current equipment and electrical panel, and ask how each room feels through the year.
- 2
Written quote and rebate review
You get a written quote that lists the equipment, labor and permits. We also go over the Avista rebates and federal tax credits that may apply and help you claim them.
- 3
Installation day
We lay down floor protection, remove the old equipment, set the outdoor unit and air handler, and run the refrigerant and electrical connections. Most installs finish in one to two days depending on what we find.
- 4
Startup, inspection and cleanup
We test heating, cooling and defrost operation, schedule the permit inspection and haul away the old equipment. Before we leave, we walk you through the controls.
What Shapes the Cost of a Heat Pump
Every home is a little different, so we price from what we see on the estimate visit. The written quote shows each line before you decide. Rebates and tax credits can change the final number noticeably, and we factor them in with you.
- System size and efficiency
- Larger homes need more capacity, and cold-climate, variable-speed models cost more up front while running more efficiently through the winter.
- Electrical panel capacity
- Some older homes need a panel upgrade or a new circuit to support a heat pump and its backup heat. We check this on the first visit so it is not a surprise.
- Backup heat choice
- Keeping a working furnace for dual-fuel operation, adding new electric strips or replacing the furnace too all lead to different totals.
- Placement and access
- Long refrigerant line runs, tight crawlspaces and wall-mounted brackets add labor compared with a straightforward pad beside the house.
Questions About Heat Pumps
- Can a heat pump keep my house warm through a Fairfield winter?
- Yes, for most of the season. A cold-climate unit sized to your home's heat loss handles normal winter weather on its own. In the hardest cold, a furnace or electric strips fill the gap. We set the switchover point so you stay comfortable and backup heat runs only when it's worth it.
- Can my gas or propane furnace stay?
- In many homes, yes. A furnace in good condition can be paired with a heat pump in a dual-fuel system. The heat pump carries most of the load, and the furnace steps in when temperatures drop hard.
- Which rebates or tax credits apply?
- Many heat pump projects qualify for Avista rebates and federal tax credits, depending on the equipment and your circumstances. We help you sort out which ones fit and collect the paperwork to claim them.
- Why is steam coming off my outdoor unit in winter?
- That's the defrost cycle clearing frost from the coil, and it's normal. Heating may stop for a few minutes with a whooshing sound. If ice keeps building up and doesn't clear, call us.
- What happens if my heat pump quits at night?
- Our emergency HVAC repair runs 24/7, so you can reach us whenever the heat goes out. Until we get there, the emergency heat setting on your thermostat can keep the house warm.
See Whether a Heat Pump Fits Your Home
We will walk your home, size the system honestly and write down every cost. If the heat is out right now, our emergency repair line is answered day and night.