A heat pump heats and cools with the same equipment, moving heat rather than burning fuel. We install, service and repair ducted heat pumps, ductless systems and cold-climate models that keep producing usable heat well below freezing, for homes throughout North Jersey.
Heat pumps only deliver on their promise when they are correctly sized and correctly wired. Heights has a mechanical engineer on staff who runs heat loss and heat gain calculations for every system we design, and we handle our own electrical and wiring rather than subcontracting it out.
Heat Pump Not Keeping Up? Here Is What Usually Causes It
The most common complaint is a heat pump that cannot hold temperature on the coldest days, or one that runs constantly while the electric bill climbs. Sometimes that is a genuine capacity problem from an undersized or aging unit. Just as often it is low refrigerant, a failed defrost control letting the outdoor coil ice over, a stuck reversing valve, or auxiliary heat strips that are running when they should not be.
The other issue we see is a system that was never designed for a New Jersey winter in the first place. An older standard heat pump loses output as the temperature drops, which is exactly when you need it most. Modern cold-climate models handle that far better, but only if the equipment was selected against a real load calculation.
What Our Heat Pump Service Includes
For repairs we check refrigerant charge and pressures, test the reversing valve and defrost board, inspect the outdoor coil and fan, verify the indoor coil and airflow, and confirm the auxiliary or backup heat is staging correctly. Because we do our own electrical work, we can trace control wiring and disconnect problems on the spot instead of handing you off to someone else.
For installation and replacement, the work starts on paper. Our engineer calculates the heat loss and heat gain for your home, reviews the existing ductwork or plans the line sets for a ductless system, and specifies equipment that matches the load. Then we handle the permits, the electrical, the refrigerant lines, the condensate and the commissioning, and we walk you through the controls before we leave.
Signs Your Heat Pump Needs Service
- Outdoor unit iced over and staying that way
- Blowing cool air while set to heat
- Electric bills jumping during cold weeks
- System runs nonstop without reaching setpoint
- Loud clanking or hissing from the outdoor unit
- Auxiliary or emergency heat light stays on
- Unit will not switch between heating and cooling
- Short cycling on and off every few minutes
Noticing any of these? Call (201) 245-7772 or request service online. Same-day appointments across North Jersey.
Our Heat Pump Process
Assess the system and the home
For repairs we diagnose the fault. For a new system we measure the house and run a load calculation instead of copying the size of the old unit.
Design and specify
Our engineer matches equipment to the calculated load, checks the electrical service, and decides whether a ducted, ductless or cold-climate system fits best.
Present options and pricing
You see the choices side by side with upfront pricing. Financing is available through Synchrony if you want to spread the cost.
Install or repair
We pull the permits, do our own wiring, set the equipment, run and evacuate the line set and charge the system to specification.
Commission and hand over
We verify performance in both heating and cooling modes, set up the thermostat and defrost settings, and show you how to run the system.
Heat Pump Options We Offer
Cold-climate heat pumps
Models built to hold capacity in genuinely cold weather, which matters in a New Jersey winter. A practical choice for homeowners wanting to cut fuel use.
Ducted air-source heat pumps
A direct fit for homes that already have ductwork, giving you heating and cooling from a single system with one outdoor unit.
Ductless heat pump systems
Wall or ceiling units for additions, attics, converted spaces and older homes with no ducts. Each zone gets its own temperature control.
Dual-fuel and hybrid setups
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace or existing boiler, switching to fuel only when it is genuinely the cheaper way to heat.
Heat pump repair and tune-up
Refrigerant, defrost, reversing valve and control diagnostics, plus annual maintenance that keeps efficiency where it should be.
Why Choose Heights for Heat Pumps
- Family Owned & Operated: A family business means more personalized service than you get from big chain providers.
- 56 Years of Industry Experience: Over 56 years of combined industry experience across plumbing, heating and cooling.
- Licensed & Insured: NJ HVAC Lic. #197400 and NJ Plumbing Lic. #1221100. Fully insured for residential and commercial work.
- Engineers On Staff: Our own mechanical and electrical engineers design systems and handle wiring, so you don’t need a second contractor.
- Same-Day Service: Schedule with us and we’ll provide service within 24 hours, arriving on time as scheduled.
- No Worries Pricing: Straightforward pricing with no surprise fees or up-charges. You know what you’re paying before we start.
Heat Pumps Across Bergen, Essex & North Jersey
We provide heat pumps from our offices in Fair Lawn and Hillsdale to every municipality in Bergen County and Essex County, including:
We also serve Sussex County, Passaic County, Warren County, Morris County, Hudson County, Union County, Hunterdon County, Somerset County, Middlesex County, Mercer County.
Heat Pumps FAQs
Do heat pumps actually work in New Jersey winters?
Modern cold-climate heat pumps produce usable heat well below freezing. Older standard models lose output as it gets colder, which is why sizing and equipment selection matter so much here.
Can a heat pump replace my furnace or boiler?
In many homes yes, and in others a dual-fuel setup makes more sense. That decision comes out of the heat loss calculation our engineer runs, not a rule of thumb.
Why is my outdoor unit covered in ice?
Some frost is normal and the defrost cycle clears it. Ice that stays put usually means a defrost control, sensor or refrigerant problem and should be looked at.
Do I need an electrical upgrade for a heat pump?
Sometimes, depending on your panel and the equipment. We check the service as part of the design, and we do our own electrical and wiring on system installs.
How often does a heat pump need maintenance?
Twice a year is ideal since it runs in both seasons. At minimum, service it before heating season and keep the outdoor coil clear of leaves and snow.