Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling — when they fail, both functions go offline. Get connected with technicians who diagnose and repair heat pump systems across Lima and Allen County, including issues specific to cold-weather operation in Northwest Ohio.
Lima is the seat of Allen County in flat northwest Ohio farmland that, like Toledo further north, was once part of the Great Black Swamp before 19th-century drainage projects made it suitable for agriculture and settlement. The city grew around an oil-refining and manufacturing economy, and much of its older residential core near downtown dates to that industrial era, with modest frame and brick homes whose heating systems have typically been replaced more than once as the local economy shifted. Northwest Ohio's flat terrain offers little natural windbreak, so winter cold fronts move through with less buffering than in the state's hillier eastern counties, and Allen County sees sustained cold stretches even though it's further from Lake Erie's direct lake-effect zone than cities like Toledo or Cleveland. Because Lima's population and housing growth have been comparatively slow in recent decades, a larger share of the city's furnaces are aging systems reaching the end of a typical service life rather than recent installations.
Common Heat Pump Problems
Common heat pump failures: reversing valve problems that prevent switching between heating and cooling, refrigerant leaks, defrost board failures that cause ice buildup on the outdoor unit in cold weather, compressor issues, and auxiliary heat problems. Heat pumps in Northwest Ohio work harder in cold weather — defrost cycles and auxiliary heat are important in our climate.
Heat Pump vs. Furnace in Allen County
Northwest Ohio's cold winters push heat pumps to their efficiency limits at low outdoor temperatures. Below around 35-40 degrees, heat pump efficiency drops significantly and auxiliary or emergency heat carries the load. If your heat pump is running but not keeping up in cold weather, the auxiliary heat source may be the issue.
This content is reviewed by the Ohio Furnace Repair editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for furnace repair. Read our editorial standards.