Heating Repair in Foley
Heating on the Alabama coast is easy to forget until it fails. Most winter days are mild, and then a front comes through and it is 30 degrees at dawn. If your heat pump will not keep up, call (251) 270-2500. We connect you with a licensed, insured HVAC contractor working in South Baldwin, and you get a free estimate before any work starts.
This page covers the general heating side of HVAC repair in Foley. For the most common system here, go straight to heat pump repair.
How Most South Baldwin Homes Heat
Heat pumps are the standard. In winter the system runs in reverse, pulling heat from outdoor air and moving it inside. A reversing valve switches between heating and cooling, and a defrost control clears frost off the outdoor coil on cold, damp mornings.
Electric heat strips sit inside the air handler as backup. They kick in as “auxiliary heat” when the heat pump needs help and take over completely on “emergency heat.” They warm the house reliably but cost more to run.
Gas furnaces and dual-fuel systems are less common but still around, mostly in older homes and some inland properties. A dual-fuel setup pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace for the coldest days.
Common Heating Problems
- No heat at all: thermostat settings, a tripped breaker, a failed heat strip sequencer or a dead outdoor unit.
- Cool air from the vents: a stuck reversing valve, low refrigerant or a defrost fault.
- Heavy ice on the outdoor unit: a failed defrost sensor or board.
- High winter bills: the system is leaning on heat strips because the heat pump is not doing its share.
- Burning smell on first use: usually dust burning off the heat strips, which should fade quickly. A smell that lingers needs a check.
Our heat pump not heating guide walks through safe checks you can make first.
Maintenance Before the First Cold Front
A fall heating check is the cheapest way to avoid a cold-morning emergency. The contractor tests the heat strips, checks the reversing valve and defrost operation, and looks at electrical connections. See AC and heating maintenance for what is included and when to book.
