- Founded in 2005
- Family-Owned & Local
- Honest & Transparent
- Mount Gilead, NC
- Heating & Cooling Specialists
- Residential & Commercial
A heat pump is the workhorse of comfort here. It cools you through our long, humid Piedmont summers and heats you through our mild winters, all on one outdoor unit. When yours is failing, oversized, undersized, or just plain worn out, you feel it on every Mount Gilead utility bill.
A bad install costs you for years. Pick a unit too big and it short-cycles, never pulls the humidity out of the air, and leaves your house clammy. Pick one too small and it runs nonstop on a 90-degree July afternoon and still can't keep up. Skip the load calculation and you're guessing with your money.
We don't guess. EM Contractors LLC sizes your heat pump to your actual home, installs it clean, and tests it before we leave. Honest recommendation, fair price, work that lasts. We've done HVAC in this community for decades, and we install it like it's going in our own house.
Common Problems We See
- Your old heat pump is 12 to 15 years old and breaking down every season
- Energy bills keep climbing for the same heating and cooling you've always had
- The house stays humid and clammy in summer no matter where you set the thermostat
- Some rooms never get comfortable while others are too cold or too hot
- The outdoor unit is rusted or corroded from years of Piedmont humidity and lake-area moisture
- Your system still uses old R-22 refrigerant that's been phased out and is costly to recharge
- The unit runs almost nonstop and still can't keep up on the hottest or coldest days
- You're building an addition or finishing a space and need heating and cooling that actually fits
How EM Contractors Helps
We start by measuring your home, not by upselling you. A proper load calculation tells us the right size for your square footage, your insulation, your windows, and how our humid climate works your system. Get the size right and everything else follows: better humidity control, steadier temperatures, and lower run-times.
Then we install it the right way. We set the outdoor unit on a solid pad, make clean refrigerant and electrical connections, check the airflow and the charge, and tie in your thermostat so it actually controls the system the way it should. We test heating and cooling before we pack up, walk you through how it runs, and leave your work area clean. We service all major makes and models, so you get an honest recommendation on the equipment that fits your home and your budget, not whatever we happen to be pushing.
Why Choose EM Contractors LLC
We're a family-owned company right here at 580 Valley View Church Rd in Mount Gilead, and the Mabe family has done HVAC in Montgomery County for decades. We know why heat pumps dominate around here, and we know what our humidity and the moisture off Lake Tillery do to an outdoor unit over time. When you call us, you talk to a real local technician, not a call center. We'll tell you the truth about what your home needs, charge a fair price, and treat your house with respect. That's how Eric Mabe built this business since 2005, and it's how we still work today.
Our Heat Pump Installation Process
- 1
Call or request service
Tell us what's going on with your current system and what you want fixed. We listen first.
- 2
In-home evaluation and load calculation
We measure your home and check your ductwork so we size the new heat pump to your house, not a guess.
- 3
Honest options and a fair quote
We lay out the equipment choices in plain language, recommend only what you actually need, and give you a clear price.
- 4
Clean, professional installation
We set the outdoor unit, make tight refrigerant and electrical connections, and tie in your thermostat the right way.
- 5
Test, calibrate, and walk-through
We run heating and cooling, verify the charge and airflow, then show you how your new system works.
- 6
Clean work area and follow-up
We haul off the old equipment, leave your space tidy, and stand behind the work if you need us.
Local Tips for Heat Pump Installation
Honest, practical advice from the EM Contractors crew — the same things we'd tell a neighbor.
Match the unit to our humid summers, not just the heat
Our Piedmont summers are long and sticky, so a system that runs a little longer at a steady pace pulls more moisture out of the air than an oversized one that blasts cold and shuts off. When you weigh options, ask how the unit handles humidity, not just how fast it cools.
Get the ductwork checked before you buy
A new heat pump can only push air as well as your ducts let it. Leaky or undersized ducts in a crawl space or attic waste comfort and money. Have us look at the ductwork during the in-home visit so the new system isn't fighting old problems from day one.
Plan for backup heat for the cold snaps
Our winters are mild, but we still get a few nights near 20 degrees. Make sure your new heat pump includes backup heat strips and that the thermostat is set up to use them only when it's truly cold, so you stay warm without running up the bill.
More Heat Pumps Services
Should You Repair or Replace Your AC System?
We'll never push a new system you don't need. Here's the honest framework we use to help you decide.
Repair may be best
- System is under about 10 years old
- The repair is minor and inexpensive
- Energy bills have stayed steady
- Unit has been maintained and uses R-410A
- First or second issue in years of service
Replacement may be best
- System is 12–15+ years old
- Repairs are becoming frequent
- Energy bills keep climbing
- Cooling is uneven or humidity stays high
- A major component (like the compressor) failed
- Unit uses phased-out R-22 refrigerant
Not sure where your system lands? We'll give you an honest evaluation — and we'll tell you to keep what you have when that's the right call.
What Customers Say About Our Heat Pump Installation Service
Real, verified reviews from the Mount Gilead neighbors we've helped.
“EM Contractors quickly responded to our call for help. Quickly diagnosed the problem, and expertly installed a new Heil Performance Gas Furnace/Heat Pump combination packaged unit. We are grateful for his work.”
“I have known the Mabe family for 65 years. Father Roger and son Eric have for 30 years provided to me excellent A/C installation and service. EM Contractors are knowledgeable, prompt and courteous. I highly recommend the company.”
“Excellent service. I called in the afternoon and someone was at my house within an hour. Would definitely recommend!”
Heat Pumps Tips From Our Blog
Heat Pump Installation Questions, Answered
A straightforward replacement on existing ductwork is usually a one-day job. If we're correcting ductwork, changing the system layout, or adding a new circuit, it can run longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline when we quote it, not a guess.
That depends on your square footage, insulation, windows, and ductwork, not just a rule of thumb. We do a proper load calculation before recommending anything. Sizing matters a lot here because an oversized unit won't pull humidity out of the air during our long Piedmont summers.
Yes. Our winters are mild and rarely drop below about 20 degrees, which is exactly why heat pumps work so well in this area. Modern units handle the occasional cold snap, and most systems include backup heat for the coldest days.
We service and install all major makes and models. We've installed Heil and others. We recommend the equipment that actually fits your home and budget, not whatever brand pays us the most. Honest advice is the whole point.
If your unit is under 10 years old and it's a single minor fix, repair usually makes sense. If it's 12 to 15 years or older, still runs on phased-out R-22, or you've had two or more big repairs in a few seasons, replacement usually saves you money over time. We'll give you the honest answer, not a sales pitch.
Yes. Some of the historic homes around downtown Mount Gilead were never built for central ductwork. In those cases a ductless heat pump (mini-split) is often the right call, and we can walk you through whether that fits your home.
A few things move the price: the size and efficiency of the unit, the condition of your existing ductwork, and whether we need a new electrical circuit or a different system layout. A straight swap on good ducts costs less than a job that needs duct work or rewiring. We measure your home, then give you a clear price before any work starts, no surprises.
We handle the whole job: the load calculation, setting the new outdoor unit and indoor coil, the refrigerant and electrical connections, tying in your thermostat, and testing both heating and cooling. We also haul off your old equipment and leave the area clean. You get a system that's sized right and a walk-through so you know how it runs.
Often, yes. Because a heat pump runs year-round here for both heating and cooling, a more efficient unit can pay back the difference over time on your energy bills. But it isn't always the right call for every home or budget. We'll show you the honest trade-off so you pick the unit that actually fits your house, not the most expensive one on the shelf.
Ready for Heat Pump Installation? Talk to a Local HVAC Contractor
Call EM Contractors LLC for honest heat pump installation in Mount Gilead, NC and the surrounding communities.