When your heat pump stops heating in the middle of January, you need a technician who finds the cause instead of guessing. We repair, install, and maintain air-source heat pumps and ductless mini-splits for homes across Central Pennsylvania, working from our base in Mount Pleasant Mills. Call us, or send a request and tell us what the system is doing.
Call (717) 543-3034 or
License #PA054276 | Mitsubishi Elite Diamond Contractor | Locally owned
Diagnosis That Reaches the Real Fault, From Thermostat to Compressor
You get a heat pump that heats and cools reliably again, plus a clear explanation of what failed. Our heat pump repair visits cover:
- Heating that has stopped or weakened. We check the thermostat signal and the outdoor unit for debris that chokes airflow, then test the parts behind most no-heat calls: the reversing valve, the defrost timer, and the refrigerant charge.
- Systems that will not start. We confirm power and breaker status, check thermostat wiring and compatibility (including after a thermostat replacement), and trace electrical faults.
- Noises that point to a failing part. Squealing or grinding can mean a bad compressor or worn motor bearings, so we diagnose it before a small problem becomes a full failure.
- Motors, start components, and fans. We test the electrical start components, motors, and fan blades that keep the system running.
- Coils, drains, and airflow. We clean indoor and outdoor coils and condensate pans and drains when they contribute to the problem.
If the heat pump is past repairing, we tell you so and walk through your options before any work starts.
Quick Checks Before You Call, and When to Stop
A few checks take five minutes and sometimes solve the problem. Stop and call us if a breaker trips a second time, or if you hear squealing or grinding.
- Heat pump not turning on: Check the power switch and your breaker panel for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. Set the thermostat to the right mode and temperature, and if you recently replaced it, confirm it works with your system and has the correct wiring. A breaker that trips again may point to a short, which needs a technician.
- Heat pump not heating: Check the thermostat settings, then look at the outdoor unit for leaves or debris blocking airflow. A damaged reversing valve, a failed defrost timer, or a low refrigerant charge needs a trained technician.
- Heat pump making noises: Humming can mean loose hardware. Squealing or grinding can mean a bad compressor or worn motor bearings, so switch the unit off to prevent more damage and call us.
Leave electrical panels and refrigerant to a technician.
From First Call to a Working Heat Pump
- You call or send a request. Tell us what the system is doing, roughly how old it is, and whether your home has ducts or ductless indoor heads, and we schedule the visit.
- We diagnose on site. A technician checks the thermostat, outdoor unit, electrical components, and refrigerant circuit to find the root cause.
- We explain the findings. You hear what failed, what the repair involves, and whether repair or replacement makes more sense, before work begins.
- We repair and test. We run the system in heating and cooling modes and check operation and temperature splits at the indoor units.
- We recommend next steps. That may be a yearly tune-up or a maintenance agreement so small issues get caught early.
Our technicians take pride in timeliness, politeness, and cleanliness: they arrive when scheduled, treat your home with care, and clean up when the job is done.
Repair or Replace? How We Help You Decide
Repair makes sense when one failed part is the main problem on a system with a clean service record. Replacement deserves a closer look when repairs keep recurring, when they grow more expensive, or when a major component such as the compressor fails. Age matters, and so does maintenance history: a heat pump with regular service and no record of trouble is a stronger repair candidate than one without.
We will not push a new system when a repair will do, and we will tell you when money spent on an aging system is better put toward a new one. When replacement is the right call, our heating system replacement options start with the same home visit described below.
Heat Pump Installation Sized to Your Home, Ducted or Ductless
Heat pump installation starts with your home’s layout, your existing ductwork, and how you use each room. We begin with a visit to assess those, then explain the options before you commit.
| Setup | Good fit for | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted heat pump | Homes with sufficient existing ductwork, or where a duct package can be added | An indoor air handler uses the duct system, and we check duct condition and airflow first |
| Ductless, single-zone | One space without ducts, such as an addition, garage, or finished basement | One indoor head connected to one outdoor unit through a small hole in the wall |
| Ductless, multi-zone | Several rooms or a whole floor with different comfort needs | Two or more indoor heads on one outdoor unit, each room controlled separately |
| Hybrid with a furnace | Homes keeping oil or gas heat for the coldest days | The heat pump cools and handles milder-weather heating, and the furnace takes over below a set temperature |
We size each system from room dimensions, insulation, ceiling height, sun exposure, and how the space is used, then explain whether single-zone or multi-zone fits. For rooms without ducts, our ductless mini-split installations avoid the cost and mess of new ductwork. Once the system is in, we test heating and cooling and walk you through the controls before we leave.
We install Bryant heat pumps and Mitsubishi ducted and ductless systems. Mitsubishi highlights a 12-year parts and compressor warranty for systems installed in single-family homes and registered within 90 days of installation.
Will a Heat Pump Keep Up in a Central PA Winter?
Modern air-source heat pumps can, and a furnace backup covers the coldest days if you want extra margin.
We have seen that work across very different buildings. At Free Spring Church of the Brethren in Mifflintown, we replaced two oil-fired boilers and eight aging AC units with Mitsubishi Hyper-Heating ducted heat pumps. In a State College home, we paired a 2.5 ton Bryant heat pump with a Trane oil furnace, so the heat pump runs in milder weather and oil heat takes over below approximately 30°F.
That 30°F changeover belongs to that home. Yours depends on how the equipment performs as temperatures fall, how much heat your house needs, the price of electricity compared with fuel, and how the controls are set.
What Heat Pump Repair and Installation Cost
Repair cost depends on which part failed, how easy it is to reach, and what the diagnosis uncovers elsewhere in the system. Installation cost depends on the type of system, the capacity your home needs, the number of zones, and whether ductwork or electrical work has to change. A higher-efficiency system costs more up front, so your heating history and how long you plan to stay in the home help decide whether that trade pays off.
We diagnose before we quote a repair, and we give a detailed estimate for any installation. During that estimate we go over rebates and details such as line set placement and remote operation. Request a free installation estimate and we will walk through the options that fit your home and budget.
Tune-Ups That Catch Heat Pump Problems While the Weather Is Mild
A yearly tune-up lets us find worn parts before the first hard freeze. Our heat pump tune-up includes:
- Electrical start component checks
- Indoor and outdoor coil cleaning
- Condensate pan and drain cleaning
- Electric heater checks
- Heating and cooling operation checks
- Temperature split checks at the indoor units
- Motor and fan blade inspection
- Filter inspection and replacement
Between visits, change or clean filters at least as often as the manufacturer recommends, and keep furniture and other objects away from the indoor unit so airflow stays clear. Ask about our maintenance agreements to schedule seasonal tune-ups for your heat pump and air conditioning.
A Locally Owned Team That Explains the Options Before You Commit
MGM Mechanical is a small, locally owned HVAC company. Our owner, Mike, gives customers a timely response and a detailed estimate that works with their schedule, and he takes the time to understand what you need and offer options that fit your budget.
We have served Central Pennsylvania for more than 20 years, we work under License #PA054276, and you can confirm our Elite Diamond Contractor status on Mitsubishi’s contractor locator. We also install and service heat pumps in churches and commercial buildings, including a 32-ton church installation in Mifflintown, so a home system is well within our experience. Our approach stays simple: we diagnose first, explain what we found, and quote the work.
Heat Pump Service Across Eight Central PA Counties
We install and repair heat pumps across our eight-county service area, including homes in Snyder County, Union County, Juniata County, and Mifflin County. Homeowners in Selinsgrove and Lewisburg have local pages, and we also work in State College and the Harrisburg area. If you are not sure we cover your address, call us and we will confirm.
Heat Pump Questions Homeowners Ask
How do I know if my heat pump is failing?
Common warning signs are cool air in heating mode, a unit that will not start or keeps shutting off, squealing or grinding sounds, and debris blocking the outdoor unit. Any of these deserves a technician’s visit, especially noises, because a bad compressor or worn motor bearings can get worse quickly.
Why is my electric bill so high with a heat pump?
An undersized heat pump, dirty filters or coils, thermostat settings, or backup electric heat running too often can all push the bill up. We look at the equipment and the settings together to find which applies. We cannot predict your bill, because it also depends on your home and your electric rates.
Can a heat pump work with my existing ductwork?
Often yes. A ducted heat pump works best in homes with sufficient ductwork, and we check the duct layout and airflow during the estimate. Where ducts are missing or inadequate, we can add a duct package, as we did in an attic for a State College home, or use ductless heads instead.
Can I keep my furnace and add a heat pump?
Yes, you can pair a heat pump with a compatible furnace and the right controls. The heat pump handles cooling and milder-weather heating, and the furnace supplies heat when it gets cold. Whether your furnace is a good candidate depends on its age, condition, and compatibility, which we assess on site.
How often should a heat pump be serviced?
Once a year. Annual service catches worn parts, dirty coils, and electrical issues before they cause a breakdown, and it helps keep warranty requirements met. A maintenance agreement puts the visit on the calendar so it does not get missed.
Heating and Cooling Help Beyond the Heat Pump
If your home runs on a furnace, we handle gas and propane furnace repair and installation, and if you heat with oil, we also do oil boiler repair and replacement.
Call (717) 543-3034 or request heat pump service online to get your system heating again. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and established customers have access to 24-hour support.