Heat Pump Repair in Olympia, WA
Ducted and ductless heat pump repair for Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater from our Sumner team, with fees listed up front and a written price before work starts.
Locally-owned since 1977 • Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD) • NATE-certified technicians • Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer • Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer
Heat pump repair in Olympia, the quick version
Home Comfort Alliance repairs ducted and ductless heat pumps in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, with an upfront price before any work begins. Our Sumner team covers Thurston County. The visit costs a $119 dispatch fee plus a $72 standard diagnostic, shown separately, and the repair is quoted in writing for your approval before any work.
Call (425) 645-0404. Our phones are answered and bookings are accepted 24/7.
Burning smell or a breaker that keeps tripping? Turn the system off at the thermostat, leave the breaker off and call us. Do not keep resetting it.
Defrost, or a real problem?
In damp, near-freezing weather a heat pump's outdoor coil collects frost. Every so often the system reverses for a few minutes to melt it. During that time the outdoor fan stops, the unit may hiss or let off a cloud of steam, and the air indoors can feel cool. That is normal.
- Normal: light frost that clears, steam, a short pause, then heat again.
- Not normal: a solid block of ice, ice on only part of the coil or on the copper lines, a fan that never restarts, or cool air for long stretches.
If you see the second list, switch to EM heat if you have it, do not chip at the ice, and book a repair.
Signs your heat pump needs repair
- Cool or lukewarm air for long stretches in heat mode.
- AUX or EM heat on the thermostat most of the day in mild weather.
- Ice that stays on the outdoor unit.
- The outdoor unit hums but the fan or compressor does not start.
- Short cycling, or a breaker that trips.
- A ductless head that flashes an error code, drips or will not reach the set temperature.
- A PSE bill that jumps with no change in use.
Common heat pump repairs
| Part | What you notice |
|---|---|
| Capacitor | Hum at the outdoor unit, fan or compressor will not start |
| Contactor | Outdoor unit will not turn on, or will not turn off |
| Defrost board or sensor | Heavy icing, or long defrost cycles |
| Reversing valve | Cools but will not heat, or heats weakly |
| Outdoor fan motor | Compressor runs, fan does not spin |
| Refrigerant leak | Weak heat and icing; we find the leak before adding refrigerant |
| Thermistor or control board | Error codes, or an outdoor unit that never starts |
| Thermostat | Wrong mode or no call for heat; replacement $299 to $1,840 |
Our heat pump repair cost guide explains what each part usually involves.
Heat pumps on Olympia's coldest nights
Olympia's winter design temperature, the cold that heating systems are sized for, is 17°F. On nights near that, many heat pumps bring in backup heat, either electric strips or a gas furnace in a dual fuel system. Backup heat costs more to run, so a cold week shows up on the bill. That part is normal.
What is not normal is backup heat running on 40°F days, or a house that will not hold temperature once the cold snap passes. A thermostat with the wrong lockout settings, a failed outdoor sensor, low refrigerant or a defrost fault are the usual causes, and each one is a quick find during a diagnostic.
Ductless mini-split repair
Ductless systems are common in Olympia condos, apartments and additions. We repair indoor heads and outdoor units of all major brands, including sensors and thermistors, drain lines, fan motors, boards and communication faults between the heads and the outdoor unit. Home Comfort Alliance is a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer. Learn more about ductless systems.
How a heat pump repair visit works
- Book online or by phone. Same-day service when possible.
- A NATE-certified technician from our Sumner team checks the thermostat, indoor unit and outdoor unit.
- We measure refrigerant pressures and temperatures, compressor and fan amp draw, and test the capacitor, contactor, sensors and defrost controls.
- You get a written repair price before any work begins.
- Our trucks are fully stocked, so most repairs can be handled on the spot.
- We test the system in heating mode before we leave.
Hours and after-hours help
Our phones are answered and bookings are accepted 24/7. Heating and cooling technicians work during business hours and are available after hours for qualifying emergencies ($330 after-hours fee), such as a heat pump that has stopped heating in cold weather or a burning or electrical smell. Standard visits run Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Heat pump repair prices in Olympia
Here is what an Olympia heat pump visit costs before any repair. Once we know the fault, the repair is priced in writing.
| Home Comfort Alliance item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dispatch (trip) fee | $119 |
| Standard diagnostic | $72 |
| Deeper diagnostic | $130 |
| After-hours fee (qualifying emergencies) | $330 |
| Heat pump tune-up, per piece of equipment | $230 ($180 Club) |
| Thermostat replacement | $299 to $1,840 |
Prices as of October 2026. The standard and deeper diagnostics are one or the other, never both.
Seattle-area benchmark, not our price: Angi lists heat pump repair at $220 to $2,220 (May 2026) (Angi heat pump repair costs).
Offers this season: 10% Off Heat Pump Tune-Up, $50 Off Emergency No Heat Calls, and $50 off HVAC service or repair (special offers; not combinable with Club pricing). Financing with Salal Credit Union or Synchrony starts at $179/month* (financing).
*Financing through Salal Credit Union or Synchrony, subject to credit approval. Rates, terms and monthly payments depend on the amount financed, the plan and your credit. 0% interest options are available to qualifying customers. See lender for full terms.
Get an estimateA written, upfront price before any work begins.
Repair or replace?
Capacitors, contactors, sensors, boards and fan motors are routine repairs. ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement when a heat pump is more than 10 years old or needs frequent repairs. A failed compressor on an older system is the usual point to compare prices.
Older systems may use R-22 refrigerant. The EPA allows recycled or previously produced R-22 to service existing systems and does not require you to replace them, but R-22 is scarce, which raises the cost of a refrigerant repair (EPA guidance).
If you replace an out-of-warranty, centrally ducted, all-electric heat pump with a qualifying cold-climate ducted model, PSE pays $1,500 plus an income-based Efficiency Boost of up to $2,400; ductless and dual fuel systems are excluded (PSE upgrade rebate, read October 2026). Energize Thurston discounts go only through its certified installers, and Home Comfort Alliance is not one of them.
Replacement estimates are free, and our instant HVAC quote gives a range in about 30 seconds. What you get with a replacement: a 3-year Comfort Shield labor warranty on new installations, kept active with yearly maintenance. First-year maintenance is included. See heat pumps in Olympia.
Permits and utilities in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater
PSE supplies electricity in Olympia. A like-for-like part repair normally needs no permit, but the City of Olympia's permit list covers mechanical and electrical work, so we check with the Permit Center when a repair changes the system. Replacing a heat pump needs a City permit (Permit Center, 360-753-8314, Olympia permits), and the City issues its own electrical permits. Lacey issues its own electrical permits, Tumwater electrical permits come from Washington L&I, and unincorporated Thurston County addresses go through the county. We pull the required permits for every installation.
A recent Olympia heat pump repair: a ductless unit that would not start
In March we were called to an Olympia condo in 98513 where a single-head Mitsubishi ductless system would not reach its set temperature. In both heat and cool mode the outdoor unit never came on.
Our technician checked the refrigerant pressure at rest and topped it up, but the outdoor unit still would not run. The outdoor control board showed no visible damage and the coil temperature sensor read correctly. The compressor discharge sensor, though, read as an open circuit, which keeps the outdoor unit from starting to protect the compressor. The repair was a new thermistor harness assembly for the outdoor unit.
From our March 2026 service records; customer details are kept private.
Why Olympia homeowners call us
- Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer, Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer and Lennox Premier Dealer.
- NATE-certified technicians and written prices before any work.
- Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington: WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD and WA Electrical Contractor Lic. #HOMECCA782DC.
- BBB Accredited Business since 2002, ACCA member, Best Pick 2025 and 2026.
- Locally owned since 1977.
Where we repair heat pumps around Olympia
We repair heat pumps throughout Olympia, ZIP codes 98501, 98502, 98506, 98512, 98513 and 98516, and in nearby Lacey and Tumwater. For dual fuel systems, see furnace repair in Olympia for the furnace side.
Olympia heat pump repair FAQ
How much does heat pump repair cost in Olympia?
A repair visit has a $119 dispatch (trip) fee, and diagnosis is $72 for a standard diagnostic or $130 for a deeper one. After-hours visits for qualifying emergencies carry a $330 after-hours fee. You get the repair price in writing before any work begins. For context, Angi lists Seattle-area heat pump repairs at $220 to $2,220 (May 2026); that is not our price.
What usually makes a heat pump stop heating?
A tripped breaker, a failed capacitor or contactor, a stuck reversing valve, a refrigerant leak, a failed defrost control or a bad sensor. Check that the thermostat is on HEAT and both breakers are on, then book a diagnostic.
Why does my heat pump keep restarting?
Short cycling can come from a dirty filter, low refrigerant, a sensor fault, an oversized system or a thermostat problem. It wears parts out faster, so have it checked.
Why is my heat pump loud?
A whoosh and a short pause during defrost are normal. Grinding, banging, rattling or a hum that will not stop point to a fan motor, contactor or compressor problem.
Do heat pumps work in Olympia's cold snaps?
Yes. Olympia's heating design temperature is 17°F. Many heat pumps lean on backup heat on the coldest nights, so a higher bill during a cold week can be normal. A bill that stays high afterward is worth a check.
Is it worth repairing an older heat pump?
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement when a heat pump is more than 10 years old or needs frequent repairs. We give you the repair price first and tell you if replacement makes more sense. Replacement estimates are free.
Do you repair ductless mini-splits?
Yes, all major brands. We are a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer, and our technicians are NATE-certified.
Can you come today or after hours?
Same-day service when possible. Our phones are answered and bookings are accepted 24/7. Heating and cooling technicians work during business hours and are available after hours for qualifying emergencies ($330 after-hours fee), such as a heat pump that has stopped heating in cold weather.
Are there rebates for heat pump repair in Olympia?
No. If you replace an out-of-warranty, centrally ducted, all-electric heat pump, PSE offers $1,500 for a qualifying model, plus an income-based Efficiency Boost of up to $2,400. Energize Thurston discounts go only through its certified installers, and Home Comfort Alliance is not on that list.
Do I need a permit for a heat pump repair?
A like-for-like part repair normally needs no permit, but Olympia's permit list covers mechanical and electrical work, so we check with the Permit Center when a repair changes the system. Replacing a heat pump needs a City of Olympia permit, or a Lacey, Tumwater or Thurston County permit outside Olympia. We pull the required permits for every installation.
Do you serve Lacey and Tumwater?
Yes. Our Sumner team serves Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and nearby Thurston County.
Is Home Comfort Alliance licensed?
Yes. WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD and WA Electrical Contractor Lic. #HOMECCA782DC. Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington, NATE-certified technicians, locally owned since 1977.
Sources (checked October 22, 2026): PSE, heat pump to heat pump upgrade rebate; EPA, repairing home heat pumps that use R-22; City of Olympia, permits; Angi, Seattle heat pump repair cost (May 2026).
Why Choose Home Comfort Alliance in Olympia?
Your Comfort is Our Promise
We promise...
Reliable heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical service, all from one trusted company.
To educate and guide you through your options so you’ll find the right solution at the right price.
Knowledgeable and respectful workers who ensure both your own comfort during the installation process, and lasting comfort from your home systems.
Outstanding service, communication, and follow-up, so your home is comfortable now and for years to come.
Book a heat pump repair in Olympia
Tell us what the heat pump is doing. A technician from our Sumner team will find the fault and give you a written, upfront price before any work begins.
Request heat pump repair
We will call you to set up the visit. If your heat pump has stopped heating after hours, call (425) 645-0404.