Plenty of Virginia Beach homes don't heat with a gas furnace at all. Many rely on heat pumps, which pull heat from the outdoor air and handle our mild coastal winters well. Our technicians repair heat pumps every week, and these are the problems we see most often here.
Ice that won't clear. A light frost on cold, damp mornings is normal, and the unit should defrost itself. A thick layer of ice that stays put means the defrost controls, airflow, or refrigerant charge needs a look.
Air that feels cold, not just mild. Heat pump air naturally feels less hot than air from a gas furnace. Air that feels truly cold usually points to a stuck reversing valve, low refrigerant, or a failing compressor.
"Aux heat" or "Emergency heat" running all the time. Backup heat strips are meant to help on the coldest days. If they run constantly, your heat pump probably isn't carrying its share, and your electric bill will show it.
An outdoor fan that won't spin. A bad fan motor or capacitor can shut the whole system down.
Not sure whether your home has a furnace, a heat pump, or a dual fuel system that uses both? That's okay. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll take it from there. For new systems and seasonal tune-ups, visit our
Virginia Beach heating service page.