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Heat pumps in Pueblo’s climate

Heat Pump Repair in Pueblo, CO

A heat pump in Pueblo has to heat through nights that have hit −20°F and cool through afternoons over 100°F.

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24/7 · Licensed & insured · Pueblo & Pueblo West

Outdoor heat pump unit on a concrete pad beside a house, with frost on the ground

When it stops doing either, call us — 24/7. First, here’s what’s normal and what isn’t.

Normal in a Pueblo winter — and not

NormalSteam rising from the outdoor unit

A defrost cycle. The heat pump briefly runs in reverse to melt frost off the outdoor coil; the outdoor fan may stop and the indoor air may feel cooler for a few minutes. Cycles typically run about 5 to 15 minutes.

Normal“AUX” on the thermostat during defrost or a cold snap

Backup heat helping out automatically.

Call usIce that stays on the coil, or a unit encased in ice

Ice left after a defrost cycle points to restricted airflow, low refrigerant or a defrost-control problem.

Call usAUX heat running all the time in mild weather

Backup heat that stays on when it’s above about 40°F outside can mean the heat pump isn’t carrying its share.

Check, then callCool air in heat mode, beyond a defrost cycle

Check that the thermostat says Heat (not Cool), the breaker is on, and the filter is clean. Still cold? A stuck reversing valve or a refrigerant problem needs a technician.

Call usOutdoor unit hums but the fan doesn’t spin

Often a failed capacitor or fan motor. Turn the system off — running it that way can damage the compressor.

Pueblo’s cold snaps and your backup heat

The Department of Energy’s cold-climate heat pump specification centers on how a heat pump performs at 5°F. Pueblo goes lower: −20°F on February 15, 2021, −15°F on December 22, 2022, −19°F on January 21, 2025. On nights like those, your heat pump depends on its backup — electric heat strips, or a gas furnace if you have a dual-fuel system — and DOE field testing found that backup heat can account for a big share of energy use during defrost cycles.

That makes the backup worth testing before winter. A heat pump that seems fine all fall can leave the house cold on the first arctic night if its heat strips or furnace have a problem nobody noticed.

If your heat pump fails outright, switching the thermostat to EM heat runs the backup alone until we can fix it. It’s meant for exactly that — emergencies — not everyday use.

Power, summer, and replacing a heat pump in Pueblo

Who supplies your power

An electric heat pump — and its heat strips — can’t run without power. Inside Pueblo city limits, power comes from Black Hills Energy. Pueblo West is split: Black Hills Energy mostly north of US 50, San Isabel Electric mostly south. Outages — including Black Hills’ wildfire-related Public Safety Power Shutoffs on high-wind days — stop the heat pump until power returns.

It’s your air conditioner, too

The same outdoor unit cools all summer: Pueblo hit 90°F or hotter on 89 days in 2024. A problem that shows up in July — a weak capacitor, a refrigerant leak — will still be there in January. See AC repair.

Replacing or adding one

Colorado’s state heat pump tax credit is still in effect in 2026, applied as an upfront discount by a contractor registered with the Colorado Energy Office — ask about registration before you sign. The federal 25C credit ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025. Rebates change, so check with your electric utility (Black Hills Energy or San Isabel Electric) and your gas utility (Xcel Energy or Colorado Natural Gas) before you buy. Pairing a heat pump with a gas furnace is one way to cover Pueblo’s coldest nights; we can walk you through the options.

Questions we hear

Why is steam coming off my heat pump?

It’s almost certainly a defrost cycle. In cold, damp weather frost builds on the outdoor coil, so the heat pump briefly reverses to warm the coil and melt it. A cloud of steam rising from the outdoor unit while that happens is normal. Ice that stays on the coil after defrost is not.

What’s the difference between AUX and EM heat on my thermostat?

AUX (auxiliary) heat turns on by itself to help the heat pump — during defrost or on very cold days. EM (emergency) heat is a setting you choose manually: it shuts the heat pump off and runs only the backup heat. Use EM heat only when the heat pump itself has failed, and call us.

Do heat pumps work in Pueblo winters?

Yes, with a working backup. The U.S. Department of Energy’s cold-climate heat pump specification centers on performance at 5°F. Pueblo has dropped well below that in recent winters — −20°F in February 2021, −19°F in January 2025 — so on those nights a heat pump leans on its backup heat: electric heat strips, or a gas furnace in a dual-fuel setup. Make sure that backup works before winter.

Is there a tax credit for a new heat pump?

Colorado’s state heat pump tax credit is still running in 2026. It’s applied as an upfront discount by a contractor registered with the Colorado Energy Office, and the equipment has to be ENERGY STAR certified (air-source systems must be AHRI-matched). The federal 25C credit ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025. Utility rebates change — check your electric and gas utilities’ current offers.

Who do I call when the power is out?

Your electric utility: Black Hills Energy inside Pueblo city limits; Black Hills Energy or San Isabel Electric in Pueblo West, depending on where you live. A heat pump can’t run without power. If it doesn’t restart once power is back, call us.

Heat pump acting up? Call us.

We answer 24/7 for Pueblo and Pueblo West. Our licensed & insured technicians repair heat pumps and their backup heat, and tell you the price before any work starts.

Call (719) 670-8043
Where the Pueblo facts on this page come from

Checked against these public sources on November 3, 2026. Weather figures are National Weather Service records for Pueblo Memorial Airport.

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