- Founded in 2005
- Family-Owned & Local
- Honest & Transparent
- Mount Gilead, NC
- Heating & Cooling Specialists
- Residential & Commercial
Your heat pump runs nearly year-round here. Long humid Piedmont summers and mild winters keep it working harder than almost any other system in the house. So when it quits, you feel it fast.
A heat pump that blows warm air in July or cold air in January is not something to wait on. Refrigerant problems, a stuck reversing valve, a bad capacitor, or a frozen outdoor unit only get worse and pricier the longer they sit. Humidity makes it worse too, rusting coils and clogging condensate lines on units that run thousands of hours a season.
We fix heat pumps the honest way. EM Contractors LLC is a family-owned Mount Gilead crew that has worked on Piedmont systems since 2005. We check the real problem, explain it in plain language, and charge a fair price. Call us and talk to a local technician, not a call center.
Common Problems We See
- Heat pump blows warm air when set to cool, or cold air when set to heat
- Outdoor unit is iced over or frozen in winter
- System runs constantly but the house never reaches the set temperature
- Loud grinding, buzzing, or rattling from the outdoor unit
- Heat pump won't switch between heating and cooling (stuck reversing valve)
- Frequent short-cycling, turning on and off every few minutes
- Auxiliary or emergency heat running constantly and driving up the electric bill
- Water leaking around the indoor unit or a clogged condensate line
How EM Contractors Helps
We start by finding the real cause, not guessing. A technician checks refrigerant charge, the reversing valve, the compressor, capacitors, the defrost control, and airflow, then tells you straight what is wrong and what it costs to fix.
Most repairs we handle in a single visit: a failed capacitor or contactor, a low refrigerant charge with a leak to seal, a stuck reversing valve, a bad defrost board, a clogged condensate line, or a thermostat that is calling for the wrong mode. We service all major makes and models. If a part has to come, we tell you up front. And if your unit is old enough that a repair is just throwing good money after bad, we will say so honestly instead of selling you a fix that won't last.
Why Choose EM Contractors LLC
We are a family-owned business right here at 580 Valley View Church Rd in Mount Gilead, and the Mabe family has serviced HVAC across Montgomery County for decades. We know why heat pumps dominate here, the long cooling season, the humidity that corrodes outdoor coils near Lake Tillery, and the occasional cold snap that leans on your auxiliary heat. Owner Eric Mabe and his crew treat your home with respect, recommend only what you actually need, and stand on honest, quality-first work. That is how we have earned our neighbors' trust since 2005.
Our Heat Pump Repair Process
- 1
Call or request service
Reach out and tell us what your heat pump is doing. We work to get out same-day or next-day when we can, no guaranteed clock, just an honest answer on timing.
- 2
Full diagnosis
We inspect the whole system, indoor and outdoor, and pin down the actual cause instead of swapping parts and hoping.
- 3
Clear explanation and fair price
You hear the problem in plain language, your options, and a fair price before any work starts. No surprises on the invoice.
- 4
Repair done right
We make the fix with quality parts, then verify refrigerant levels, airflow, and proper heating and cooling cycles.
- 5
Test and clean up
We confirm the system holds temperature, check the defrost cycle, and leave your space clean before we go.
Local Tips for Heat Pump Repair
Honest, practical advice from the EM Contractors crew — the same things we'd tell a neighbor.
Check the breaker before you call
If your heat pump goes dead quiet, look at the breaker panel first. Heat pumps trip on a power surge, and a flipped breaker is a free fix you can do yourself before paying for a service call.
Don't panic over winter ice and steam
Your outdoor unit frosting over on a cold morning is normal. It runs a defrost cycle and you'll see steam roll off it. Only worry if it stays caked in ice for hours or never clears. That's a real repair.
Swap the filter before blaming the system
Weak airflow and a unit that runs nonstop often trace back to a clogged filter, not a broken part. With our long, humid Piedmont summers the system runs hard, so check the filter monthly and change it when it looks gray.
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 Repair 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 Repair Questions, Answered
It usually points to a low refrigerant charge, a stuck reversing valve, or a compressor problem. Sometimes it is just the thermostat set wrong. We diagnose the actual cause so you are not paying to replace the wrong part.
A light frost that clears during the defrost cycle is normal. A unit caked in solid ice is not. That points to a bad defrost control, low refrigerant, or restricted airflow, and you should call before it does more damage.
If your unit is under about 10 years old with a single failure and a reasonable repair cost, repair usually makes sense. Once a system is 12 to 15 years old, needs major work, or has run up two or more big repairs in a few seasons, replacement is often the smarter money. We give you the honest call either way.
Yes. We service all major makes and models in and around Mount Gilead. We have installed Heil units and work on whatever brand you already own.
We work to get out same-day or next-day whenever our schedule allows, and our neighbors will tell you we respond quickly. Call us and we will give you an honest answer on timing.
When the heat pump can't keep up, the system falls back on electric auxiliary heat, which runs your bill up fast. It often means a refrigerant issue, a failing compressor, or a sensor problem. Get it checked so you are not heating with the expensive backup all season.
Watch for weak or warm airflow, a unit that runs constantly without keeping up, short cycling on and off, ice that won't clear in winter, loud grinding or buzzing, or a sudden jump in your power bill. Around here, a heat pump that can't pull humidity out of the air on a muggy summer day is another red flag. Catch these early and the fix is usually smaller.
Cost depends on the part and how much labor it takes to get to it. A bad capacitor or contactor is on the lower end. A refrigerant leak, a failed compressor, or a reversing valve costs more because the part and the labor are both bigger. The age of your unit matters too. We always give you an honest, up-front price before we start so there are no surprises.
We start with a real diagnosis, not a guess. We check the refrigerant charge, electrical components, the defrost controls, airflow, and the reversing valve that switches your heat pump between heating and cooling. Then we tell you exactly what's wrong, what it costs to fix, and whether the repair makes sense or you're better off putting that money toward a new system. The choice is always yours.
Ready for Heat Pump Repair? Talk to a Local HVAC Contractor
Call EM Contractors LLC for honest heat pump repair in Mount Gilead, NC and the surrounding communities.