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.
Repairs in the Scottish Borders that need a part ordered are explained and priced before the engineer leaves. For repeated faults in the Scottish Borders, the engineer looks at the system design as well as the failed part. We repair heat pumps in the Scottish Borders whoever installed them, including older monobloc and split systems.
Who it suits
- Heat pumps showing an error code or fault light
- Rooms or hot water not getting warm enough
- Outdoor units that have become noisy, iced up or keep switching on and off
- Heat pumps installed by another company that need a second opinion
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in the Scottish Borders can apply to Home Energy Scotland for a grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, with up to £1,500 more for eligible rural and island homes, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. You need a written funding offer before any work starts.
Heat pump repairs prices in the Scottish Borders
Guide prices for the Scottish Borders, including VAT. We agree the visit rate before anyone attends, so there are no surprises on the day.
| Repair | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Fault-finding visit and diagnosis | £90–£180 |
| Sensor or thermistor replacement | £120–£290 |
| Expansion vessel or pressure relief valve | £150–£360 |
| Circulating pump replacement | £260–£490 |
| Fan motor replacement | £310–£660 |
| Refrigerant leak repair and re-gas (split systems) | £360–£970 |
| Main control board (PCB) replacement | £460–£1,100 |
Inc VAT. The fault-finding rate is agreed before we attend; repairs are priced in writing before parts are ordered.
Towns we cover in the Scottish Borders
We cover 8 towns in the Scottish Borders for heat pump repairs. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duns | TD11 | Eyemouth | 7 h 00 min |
| Eyemouth | TD14 | Duns | 6 h 58 min |
| Galashiels | TD1 | Selkirk | 7 h 02 min |
| Hawick | TD9 | Selkirk | 7 h 04 min |
| Jedburgh | TD8 | Kelso | 7 h 04 min |
| Kelso | TD5 | Jedburgh | 7 h 02 min |
| Peebles | EH45 | Penicuik | 7 h 01 min |
| Selkirk | TD7 | Galashiels | 7 h 03 min |
Heat pump repairs questions
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.
How much does a heat pump repair cost?
Heat pump repairs have a typical range of £90–£1,100, including VAT, depending on the part and labour involved. Sensor replacements sit at the lower end, while control boards and refrigerant repairs on split systems sit higher. Every repair starts with a fault-finding visit, with a guide price of £90–£180 for the first hour, and the repair is priced before work goes ahead.
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.
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.