Heat Pump Installation and Repair in Easton, PA

A heat pump is one machine that heats and cools. In summer it moves heat out of your house. In winter it runs in reverse and moves heat into it. Because it moves heat rather than burning fuel to create it, it can deliver more heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes, which is why running costs are often lower than electric resistance heating.

Plumbing Pros installs, services and repairs heat pumps across Easton, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Wilson and the surrounding Lehigh Valley. Our diagnostic fee is $85, waived for service plan members.

Do heat pumps work in a Pennsylvania winter

This is the question we get asked most, and the honest answer has changed. Older heat pumps genuinely struggled in real cold. Modern cold climate models hold useful capacity at far lower temperatures than the units that gave heat pumps their reputation twenty years ago.

What matters is honest design. A heat pump has a balance point, the outdoor temperature below which it can no longer meet the house’s heat loss on its own. Below that, backup heat covers the gap. Sizing the system and setting that changeover correctly is the difference between a heat pump that is comfortable and cheap to run and one that quietly runs on expensive backup heat all winter.

We will tell you plainly whether a heat pump suits your house, or whether a gas furnace is the better answer for it. Sometimes it is.

Things heat pumps do that surprise people

• The air from the vents feels cooler than a furnace. A heat pump delivers a steady, gentler warm air over a longer run rather than short blasts of hot air. The house reaches the same temperature. It just feels different, and it is not a fault.
• The outdoor unit steams and ices in winter. That is the defrost cycle working normally.
• It runs for long periods. Also normal, and more efficient than short cycling.

Signs your heat pump needs service

• It is heating but not cooling, or cooling but not heating, which usually points at the reversing valve
• The outdoor unit stays iced over and never clears, meaning the defrost cycle is failing
• Backup or emergency heat is running constantly, which is expensive and is usually a symptom rather than the problem
• Short cycling
• Ice, grinding noises or a breaker that trips

What we check on a heat pump visit

• Refrigerant charge, which matters more on a heat pump than on a cooling only system because the unit has to perform in both directions
• The reversing valve and the defrost board
• Outdoor coil condition and clearance
• Auxiliary and emergency heat operation, and whether the changeover is set sensibly
• Airflow, filter and blower
• Thermostat compatibility, since heat pumps need a thermostat that understands them

Installation and replacement

We size to the house, assess the ductwork before quoting, and set the balance point deliberately rather than leaving it at a default. If you are replacing an air conditioner and thinking about a heat pump instead, that is exactly the right moment to consider it, because much of the work is shared.

Financing through Wisetack is available from $500 to $65,000 for approved applicants. Incentives and tax credits for efficient heat pumps do exist and change from year to year, so ask us what is current when you get your quote rather than relying on an out of date figure.

Why homeowners here call us

• Master HVAC-R licence 9380, held by owner Salvatore Sciorta.
• Comfortable on both sides. A heat pump is a heating appliance and a cooling appliance in one box, which is exactly why it should not be handled by somebody who only really does one.
• 650 Google reviews at 4.9 stars.
• BBB accredited, A plus rating since June 2024.

Common questions

Will a heat pump cut my heating bill?

Usually yes if you currently heat with electric resistance heat, oil or propane. Against cheap natural gas the comparison is closer and depends on rates. We will give you an honest comparison for your house rather than a sales pitch.

What is emergency heat and why is it expensive?

It is the backup, normally electric resistance elements, that covers the gap when it is too cold for the heat pump alone. It works, but it is the most expensive way to heat. If it is running all the time, something is wrong.

Can I keep my gas furnace and add a heat pump?

Yes. That pairing is called a dual fuel or hybrid system, and it switches to gas when the heat pump stops being the cheaper option. For a house that already has a good furnace it is often the best of both.

How long does a heat pump last?

Typically twelve to fifteen years, and it works year round, so annual maintenance matters more than on a system used for one season.

Book a heat pump visit

Call or text (610) 686-9490, or email info@plumbingprospa.com. We serve Easton, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Wilson, Palmer Township, Forks Township, Bath, Hellertown, Wind Gap and the surrounding Lehigh Valley.

See all HVAC services, or read about ductless mini splits.