First, Stay Safe in the Heat
Greater Vancouver summers increasingly bring serious heat waves, and a heat pump that quits cooling during one is more than an inconvenience — extreme heat is a genuine health risk, especially for seniors, infants, people with chronic conditions, and anyone without other cooling. Before troubleshooting, take care of people first.
Close blinds and curtains on the sun-facing side of the home, keep windows shut while it's hotter outside than in (then open them once evening air cools), and use fans to move air. Drink water steadily and don't wait until you feel thirsty. If anyone shows signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke — confusion, nausea, a rapid pulse, or stopping sweating — get them somewhere cool and seek medical help right away; call 911 for heat stroke.
Many BC communities open cooling centres during heat events. If your home is dangerously hot and cooling can't be restored quickly, relocate to a cooler space while you arrange repair.
Quick Checks That Sometimes Restore Cooling
A surprising number of "no cooling" calls come down to simple things you can check in a couple of minutes. Confirm the thermostat is set to cool, the setpoint is below the room temperature, and the fan is on auto. A thermostat with dead batteries or an accidental switch to "heat" or "off" is a common culprit.
Check the breakers. Heat pumps usually have a breaker for the indoor air handler and one for the outdoor unit; if either tripped, the system won't cool. Reset a tripped breaker once — if it trips again immediately, stop and call a technician, because repeated tripping signals a fault.
Look at the air filter. A filter so clogged it has frozen the coil will stop cooling; if you find ice on the indoor unit, turn the system off, let it thaw fully, replace the filter, and try again. Finally, make sure the outdoor unit is clear of debris and its fan is spinning when the system calls for cooling.
Signs You Need a Technician Now
If the basics check out and you still have no cooling, a few symptoms mean it's time to call. The outdoor unit hums but the fan doesn't spin, or it's completely silent, often points to a failed capacitor, contactor, or motor. Air from the vents is room-temperature rather than cold despite the system running. The unit is iced over and keeps refreezing after you thaw it. Or a breaker trips again the moment you reset it.
Weak cooling paired with a unit that never cycles off frequently indicates low refrigerant — a sealed-system issue that needs a licensed technician, since refrigerant work is regulated in BC. Burning smells, tripping breakers, or visible scorching mean stop and call immediately; don't keep cycling the system.
These aren't DIY repairs. Capacitors hold a charge even when power is off, and refrigerant and electrical work require proper training and tools. Trying to push through risks injury and bigger damage.
Get Help Fast from CanroHeat
Heat pumps are serviced by our parent company, CanroHeat. When the temperature is climbing and your system is down, call 604-359-1081. Describe what you've already checked — thermostat, breakers, filter, whether the outdoor fan spins, whether there's ice — and it helps us bring the right parts and prioritize your visit during a heat event.
During a widespread heat wave, demand for service spikes across the Lower Mainland and the whole industry gets busy, so reaching out early matters. While you wait, keep doing the heat-safety basics: blinds closed, fans running, hydration up, and move vulnerable household members to the coolest room or a cooling centre if needed.
We'll diagnose the failure, explain it in plain language, and get your cooling restored as quickly as we safely can. Call 604-359-1081 to book.
What Emergency Repairs Typically Cost
Because a no-cooling failure can stem from many causes, costs vary widely. A failed run capacitor is one of the more common and more affordable fixes. A contactor or fan motor replacement sits in the mid range with parts. Refrigerant-related repairs — finding a leak and recharging the system — are the most variable and can't be quoted without inspecting the equipment.
After-hours or weekend response during a heat event may carry different rates than a standard weekday visit; we'll be upfront about that when you call so there are no surprises.
For an accurate quote on your specific situation, call CanroHeat at 604-359-1081. We diagnose first, explain the cause, and confirm the price before we start the repair.