# Heating Repair Foley AL | Heat Pumps & Heat Strips > Heat pump not heating or heat strips failing? Get a licensed, insured HVAC contractor. Phone answered 24/7: (251) 270-2500. URL: https://foleyalacrepair.com/heating-services/ ![Heat pump with light frost beside a Foley home on a cold winter morning](/images/misc/outdoor-heat-pump-with-light-frost-on-its-coil-bes.webp) Foley & South Baldwin County # Heating Repair in Foley for Cold Snaps on the Coast Last updated: September 23, 2026 Heat pump and heat strip repair for the short but sharp cold snaps on the Alabama coast. Handled by a licensed, insured HVAC contractor. Call (251) 270-2500 [tel:2512702500 →](tel:2512702500) Phone answered 24/7 • Call about AC repair availability **Phone Answered 24/7** Talk to someone any time. **Licensed & Insured** Alabama HVAC contractors only. **Check Availability** Call about AC repair availability. **No Referral Fee** Nothing to pay for the connection. Licensed and insured Alabama HVAC contractors Phone answered 24/7 Call about AC repair availability No referral fee to the caller ## 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. This page covers the general heating side of HVAC repair in Foley [/ →](/) . For the most common system here, go straight to heat pump repair [/heat-pump-repair/ →](/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 [/guide/heat-pump-not-heating/ →](/guide/heat-pump-not-heating/) 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 [/ac-heating-maintenance/ →](/ac-heating-maintenance/) for what is included and when to book. Heating Services ## Services in This Group Pick the service closest to your problem, or just call and describe it. ![Heat pump with steam rising from the coil on a frosty coastal Alabama morning](/images/misc/outdoor-heat-pump-running-on-a-frosty-coastal-alab.webp) Licensed & Insured [/heat-pump-repair/ →](/heat-pump-repair/) ### Heat Pump Repair [/heat-pump-repair/ →](/heat-pump-repair/) Repair for heat pumps that will not heat or cool, defrost faults and heat strip problems. - Heat pump not heating or not cooling - Reversing valve diagnosis - Defrost board and sensor repair Learn more [/heat-pump-repair/ →](/heat-pump-repair/) Call (251) 270-2500 [tel:2512702500 →](tel:2512702500) Built for Coastal Conditions ## What Makes Heating Services Different on the Coast 01 ### Heat Pumps Do Double Duty Most coastal homes heat and cool with the same heat pump. One failed part, like a reversing valve or defrost board, can take out heat in January and cooling in June. 02 ### Short Season, Sharp Cold Snaps Winters are mild, so heating problems hide until the first cold front. Then everyone calls at once. A fall check keeps you out of that rush. 03 ### Backup Heat Costs More When the heat pump struggles, electric heat strips carry the load. They work, but they cost much more to run. A house stuck on backup heat means higher bills. ## AC Out Right Now? Phone answered 24/7. Call about AC repair availability. (251) 270-2500 [tel:2512702500 →](tel:2512702500) Plain-English Answers ## Guides for This Service Group Start here if you want to understand the problem before you call. Guide ### Heat Pump Defrost Cycle: Is Frost and Steam on the Outdoor Unit Normal? Steam and a whoosh from your heat pump are usually normal defrost. Learn when heavy ice means a sensor or board fault. Read guide [Heat Pump Defrost Cycle: Is Frost and Steam on the Outdoor Unit Normal? →](/guide/heat-pump-defrost-cycle/) Guide ### Heat Pump Not Heating: Common Causes on Cold Coastal Mornings Thermostat mode, reversing valve, low refrigerant, failed heat strips or defrost faults: safe checks and when to call. Read guide [Heat Pump Not Heating: Common Causes on Cold Coastal Mornings →](/guide/heat-pump-not-heating/) Guide ### What Does Emergency Heat Mean on a Heat Pump Thermostat? Aux vs emergency heat, what heat strips cost to run, when to switch EM heat on, and signs the heat pump itself has failed. Read guide [What Does Emergency Heat Mean on a Heat Pump Thermostat? →](/guide/emergency-heat-heat-pump-thermostat/) Decision guide ### Heat Pump vs Furnace on the Gulf Coast Mild coastal winters favor heat pumps. Compare heat strips vs gas furnaces, operating costs and dual-fuel options for South Baldwin homes. Read guide [Heat Pump vs Furnace on the Gulf Coast →](/guide/heat-pump-vs-furnace-gulf-coast/) Common Questions ## Heating Services FAQs ### What heating systems do most Foley homes have? Heat pumps are the most common heating system on the coast, usually with electric heat strips in the air handler as backup. Some homes have gas furnaces or dual-fuel systems. ### My heat pump is blowing cool air. Is it broken? Not always. During a defrost cycle it can blow cooler air for a few minutes. If the house will not warm up, or the outdoor coil stays iced, call for a diagnosis. ### Should I switch my thermostat to emergency heat? Only as a temporary backup while you wait for a repair. Emergency heat uses the indoor heat strips and costs more to run. ### Do I really need a heating check in a mild climate? Yes. Your heat pump works year-round, and a fall check catches heat strip, defrost and reversing valve problems before the first cold morning. ### Is steam from the outdoor unit in winter normal? Usually. It is the defrost cycle melting frost off the coil. Thick ice that does not clear, or no heat indoors, needs a contractor. ### How soon can someone come out for a no-heat call? The phone is answered 24/7. Service availability and appointment times depend on the independent contractor, who confirms them when you call. Still have a question? Call and describe what your system is doing. The phone is answered 24/7. Call (251) 270-2500 [tel:2512702500 →](tel:2512702500) ![Raised beach houses with outdoor AC units on stands at dusk in Gulf Shores](/images/misc/evening-view-of-a-row-of-raised-beach-houses-in-gu.webp) Phone answered 24/7 ## Need AC Help in South Baldwin? One call connects you with a licensed, insured HVAC contractor. Availability depends on the contractor. No referral fee. Call about AC repair availability (251) 270-2500 [tel:2512702500 →](tel:2512702500) - Licensed and insured Alabama HVAC contractors - Phone answered 24/7 - Call about AC repair availability - No referral fee to the caller