Tallahassee homeowners rely on Sterling Service for heat pump repair, replacement, installation, and maintenance, including the air handlers that go with them. A technician finds the cause first and explains your options before any work begins. To book a visit, call 850-391-0091 or use request service online.
Veteran-Owned & Family-Operated | Florida License #CAC1815632 | Ruud & Allied Equipment | 5 Star Google Rating from 500+ Reviews
Heat Pump Repair and Troubleshooting
Sterling Service diagnoses heat pumps that will not heat, will not cool, ice over, short cycle, or run nonstop. The technician checks the capacitor, contactor, reversing valve, defrost controls, refrigerant charge, and condensate drain, then explains the repair and replacement options. A heat pump cools like an air conditioner and adds a reversing valve to heat, so a fault can show up in one mode and not the other, and we test both before recommending a fix.
A Tallahassee heat pump handles the long cooling season and the heating months, so repair calls come in all year rather than only on the first cold morning. Whether the system sits at a home in Betton Hills or in Southwood, the same checklist applies, and you hear what failed and what it will take to fix it. We also repair heat pumps in Crawfordville, Quincy, Bradfordville, and across the rest of our service area.
Heat Pump Installation and Replacement
Sterling Service installs and replaces split-system heat pumps, with the indoor air handler or coil chosen to match the outdoor unit so the two work as one rated system. We install Ruud and Allied heat pumps. Every installation starts with a written proposal, and our team can get involved early in a project so equipment decisions are made before the schedule is.
Tight installs are routine for us. A Midway customer called out our crew's skill in a cramped space when we replaced a heat pump and air handler there. Financing is available with approved credit through Breeze lease-to-own, and City of Tallahassee electric customers may also qualify for Tallahassee Utilities loans on efficiency upgrades.
Rebates, Tax Credits, and Financing for a New Heat Pump
The City of Tallahassee pays two rebate tiers on air-source heat pumps to its residential electric customers: $100 for Bronze and $350 for Gold. For a split system or mini-split, Bronze requires at least 15.2 SEER2, 11.0 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2, and Gold requires 16.0 SEER2, 11.0 EER2, and 8.0 HSPF2. The rebate covers a complete system with an AHRI Unique Reference Number, needs a permit and a passed final inspection, and must be submitted within 90 days of that inspection.
The federal 25C credit that paid up to $2,000 a year toward a heat pump expired for projects completed after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 installation does not qualify, even though many guides still list it. Because the rebate depends on the rated combination of outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler, check the model numbers on any proposal against the City's tier table before you sign.
Heat Pump Maintenance and Tune-Ups
A maintenance visit covers the outdoor coil, indoor coil, blower, electrical connections, refrigerant levels, and condensate drain, and the technician runs the system in both cooling and heating mode. Finding a weak capacitor or a partly blocked drain at a scheduled visit keeps a routine fix from turning into an emergency. Weak airflow can also come from the ducts rather than the heat pump, in which case duct cleaning may be part of the fix.
Heat mode can sit unused for months in Tallahassee, so fall is the time to confirm it works before the first cold front arrives. Our tiered Total Comfort Club plans put that visit on the calendar for you.
How Heat Pumps Compare With Furnaces and Air Conditioners
A heat pump moves heat instead of making it, so one outdoor unit and one indoor unit provide both cooling and heating. That is the short version of how a heat pump works, and it is why a heat pump uses less electricity than electric resistance heat and, unlike a gas furnace, burns no fuel inside the home.
Because Tallahassee winters are mild, a heat pump carries heating for most of the season, with the electric backup heat built into the air handler covering the coldest nights. A home without ductwork can get the same benefit from a ductless heat pump in the rooms that need it. Because the same system cools and dries the air, filtration and humidity control from indoor air quality products are worth raising during the same visit.
Why Homeowners Choose Sterling Service for Heat Pumps
Homeowners choose Sterling Service because we are a veteran-owned, family-operated company licensed in Florida (CAC1815632) and working from two Tallahassee offices, on Killarney Way and Wade Road. We carry Ruud and Allied heat pumps, put every installation in a written proposal, and have earned a 5-star Google rating across more than 500 reviews.
Answers to Common Tallahassee Heat Pump Questions
Why is my Tallahassee heat pump blowing cool air when it is set to heat?
Heat pump air is warm but noticeably cooler than furnace air, so it can feel cool against your hand even when the system is working. Air that stays at room temperature or colder after the first few minutes points to a stuck reversing valve, low refrigerant, a failed defrost control, or a thermostat set to cool. A technician can test each one.
Is it normal for my heat pump to steam or ice over on a cold Tallahassee morning?
Steam rising from the outdoor unit and a thin layer of frost that clears within a few minutes are normal during a defrost cycle. A thick, solid block of ice, or a unit that stays frozen after the sun is up, means airflow, refrigerant, or a defrost component needs attention, and you should switch the system off and call.
Will a heat pump still heat my home on a freezing Tallahassee night?
Yes. A heat pump pulls heat from outdoor air even below freezing, but its output drops as the temperature falls, so the electric backup heat in the air handler switches on to fill the gap. That backup uses much more power, which is why a few cold nights can raise a bill and why a heat pump that leans on backup heat all the time should be checked.
Can my heat pump keep up with Tallahassee's 100-degree days?
A correctly sized and healthy heat pump cools the way an air conditioner does, and on a triple-digit afternoon it may run almost continuously. A working system typically cools the air passing through it by roughly 15 to 20 degrees. If yours cannot reach the thermostat setting or the air coming out feels barely cooler than the room, the cause is usually a repair item such as a dirty coil, low refrigerant, or a failing capacitor, not the weather alone.
Should I replace the air handler when I replace my heat pump outdoor unit?
Usually, yes. Efficiency ratings, and the City of Tallahassee rebate, are based on an AHRI-rated combination of outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler. Pairing a new outdoor unit with an old indoor coil can leave the system below its rated efficiency and can put the rebate out of reach, so ask for the model numbers of both parts on your proposal.
How do I claim the City of Tallahassee heat pump rebate after my installation?
After the work has a permit and a passed final inspection, City residential electric customers submit the Energy Efficient AC & Heat Pump Rebates form within 90 days of that inspection, through the Requests tab of their utility account or by email or mail to City Customer Operations. For an existing home the rebate is credited to the utility account. Amounts and tiers can change, so confirm them on the City's rebate page before you buy.
Schedule Heat Pump Service
If your heat pump is struggling to heat or cool, or you are weighing a replacement, request service online or call 850-391-0091. A technician will walk you through what the system needs and what your options are.