Heat pump repair is the diagnosis and fixing of faults in an air source heat pump, its water circuit, its controls or the hot water cylinder. Many faults have a simple cause, such as low system pressure, a blocked filter or a control setting, while others involve a failed sensor, pump, fan or circuit board.
Heat pump owners in Argyll and Bute can arrange a fault-finding visit at a rate agreed before an engineer attends. For repeated faults in Argyll and Bute, the engineer looks at the system design as well as the failed part. Across Argyll and Bute and Argyll and Bute, refrigerant repairs on split systems are carried out by an F-gas certified engineer.
Who it suits
- Heat pumps showing an error code or fault light
- Outdoor units that have become noisy, iced up or keep switching on and off
- Systems losing pressure or needing frequent topping up
- Rooms or hot water not getting warm enough
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a home in Argyll and Bute, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Heat pump repairs prices in Argyll and Bute
These are guide prices including VAT. The rate for your visit in Argyll and Bute is confirmed before we book it, and any repair is priced in writing before parts are ordered.
| Repair | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Fault-finding visit and diagnosis | £100–£190 |
| Sensor or thermistor replacement | £130–£300 |
| Expansion vessel or pressure relief valve | £160–£380 |
| Circulating pump replacement | £270–£520 |
| Fan motor replacement | £320–£700 |
| Refrigerant leak repair and re-gas (split systems) | £380–£1,050 |
| Main control board (PCB) replacement | £490–£1,200 |
Inc VAT. The fault-finding rate is agreed before we attend; repairs are priced in writing before parts are ordered.
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute
We cover 6 towns in Argyll and Bute for heat pump repairs. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbeltown | PA28 | Girvan | 7 h 04 min |
| Dunoon | PA23 | Gourock | 6 h 57 min |
| Helensburgh | G84 | Greenock | 6 h 57 min |
| Lochgilphead | PA31 | Dunoon | 6 h 56 min |
| Oban | PA34 | Lochgilphead | 6 h 51 min |
| Rothesay | PA20 | – | 6 h 59 min |
Heat pump repairs questions
Why is my heat pump showing an error code?
An error code is the heat pump's way of reporting a problem it has detected, such as low water flow, a sensor reading out of range or a communication fault between units. Note the code and check the manual, as some codes clear after a simple reset or pressure top-up. If it returns, an engineer can trace the underlying cause.
Do refrigerant repairs need a specialist?
Yes. Any work on a heat pump's refrigerant circuit, such as tracing a leak, replacing a component or re-gassing, must by law be done by an F-gas certified engineer where the refrigerant is fluorinated, such as R32; units using R290 (propane) need an engineer trained in flammable refrigerants. On split systems the refrigerant runs through pipes inside your home, so leaks there are more likely than on sealed monobloc units.
Is ice on my heat pump a fault?
Some frost on the outdoor unit in cold, damp weather is normal, and the unit clears it with regular defrost cycles, often releasing a little vapour. It becomes a fault when thick ice builds up and does not clear, or when ice blocks the fan. That can point to poor airflow, a failed sensor, drainage problems or low refrigerant, and needs checking.
Why does my heat pump keep switching on and off?
Frequent starting and stopping, called short cycling, is usually caused by an oversized heat pump, low water flow, too many zones closing at once or controls set with too narrow a range. It reduces efficiency and wears components. An engineer can check the settings, flow rates and design, and can often improve it with control changes before any parts are needed.