Fault finder
Common heat pump problems and what causes them
Find your symptom below. Each page lists the real causes and what we do about them — call us with the symptom and we arrive with the right parts.
Urgent faults — call us straight away
Heat Pump Not Heating WaterThe unit runs but the water stays cold — usually gas loss, a failed compressor or a sensor telling the unit a lie.Heat Pump Tripping the DB BoardA tripping unit is an electrical fault — never keep resetting it, that is how fires start.Heat Pump Leaking WaterSome water is normal condensate. A steady drip or pooling water is not.Heat Pump E1, E2 and E5 Error CodesError codes point at sensors, pressure and communication faults — each one has a specific fix.Heat Pump Running But No Hot WaterThe unit sounds fine but nothing hot reaches the taps — usually a plumbing or circulation issue.Heat Pump Keeps ResettingShort cycling destroys compressors. It needs attention quickly.Heat Pump Burning SmellSwitch it off at the isolator and call us. This is an electrical emergency.Heat Pump Stops After a Few MinutesThe unit starts, runs briefly and shuts down — a classic protection lockout.Heat Pump Has No PowerNo display, no fan, nothing — the supply side is the first place to look.
Other common faults
Heat Pump Making a Loud NoiseNoise is an early warning. Fixing it now is far cheaper than a compressor later.Heat Pump Iced Up or FrozenIce on the evaporator in a Pretoria winter is common — constant ice is a fault.Heat Pump Fan Not SpinningWithout airflow the unit cannot extract heat and will lock out on pressure.Heat Pump Water Only LukewarmPartial heating usually means the unit is working, just not well enough.Heat Pump High Electricity BillA heat pump that costs as much as a geyser is not working properly.Heat Pump Not Working in WinterCold mornings expose marginal charge, weak defrost and undersized units.Heat Pump Low Hot Water PressurePressure problems are usually plumbing, not the heat pump itself.Pool Heat Pump Not HeatingPool units fail differently to geyser units — flow and sizing dominate.Heat Pump Display BlankA blank controller does not always mean the unit is dead.
Cannot see your symptom?
Describe it over the phone or WhatsApp — we will tell you what it usually is before anyone comes out.