- Founded in 2005
- Family-Owned & Local
- Honest & Transparent
- Mount Gilead, NC
- Heating & Cooling Specialists
- Residential & Commercial
A heat pump does double duty in Mount Gilead. It cools you through long, humid Piedmont summers near 90 degrees, then turns around and heats you through mild winters that rarely dip below 20. That is why heat pumps are the workhorse system around here. It also means yours runs more hours than almost any other appliance in your home.
All those run-times add up. Humidity corrodes outdoor coils. Condensate lines clog. A reversing valve sticks, and suddenly you are blowing cold air in January. When a heat pump quits, you feel it fast.
We fix that. EM Contractors is a family-owned crew that has done HVAC here for decades. We repair, install, and maintain heat pumps on all major makes and models, give you a straight answer, and charge a fair price. No upsell games.
Common Problems We See
- Heat pump runs constantly but the house never cools down or warms up
- Blowing cold air when it should be heating, or warm air when it should be cooling
- Outdoor unit is frozen over or coated in ice
- Loud grinding, buzzing, or rattling from the outdoor unit
- Heat pump trips the breaker or shuts off on its own
- Water pooling around the indoor unit from a clogged condensate line
- Emergency or auxiliary heat light stays on and your power bill spikes
- Rusted, corroded outdoor coil after years in our humid summers
How EM Contractors Helps
We start by finding the real problem, not the easiest part to sell you. A tech checks the refrigerant charge, the reversing valve, the compressor, the defrost controls, and the electrical side, then tells you plainly what is wrong and what it costs to fix. Many heat pump complaints come down to a low charge, a stuck valve, a clogged drain, or a failing capacitor, all of which are repairs, not replacements.
When a unit truly is past saving, we will say so and help you size a new one right for your home and our climate. We install heat pumps from all the major brands and have put in Heil systems. Either way, you get honest work, a clean job site, and a system that runs the way it should.
Why Choose EM Contractors LLC
We are not a call center three counties away. EM Contractors works out of 580 Valley View Church Rd right here in Mount Gilead, and the Mabe family has been keeping Montgomery County homes, businesses, and churches comfortable since Eric started the company in 2005. We know what our long humid summers and mild winters do to a heat pump, from corroded coils near Lake Tillery to systems that run hard from spring through fall. Family-owned, honest, and straight with you, that is how we have built this for decades.
Our Heat Pumps Process
- 1
Call and quick diagnosis
Tell us what your heat pump is doing. We line up a visit, often same-day or next-day when we can, and come ready to work.
- 2
Full system check
We test the charge, reversing valve, compressor, defrost cycle, and electrical components to pin down the actual cause, not a guess.
- 3
Honest options and a fair price
You get a clear explanation and an upfront price before we touch anything. Repair or replace, the choice and the reasoning are yours.
- 4
The fix done right
We make the repair or install the new system, clear condensate lines, and verify it heats and cools correctly before we leave.
- 5
Seasonal maintenance
Because heat pumps here run year-round, we set you up with maintenance to catch corrosion, low charge, and wear before they become breakdowns.
Local Tips for Heat Pumps
Honest, practical advice from the EM Contractors crew — the same things we'd tell a neighbor.
Don't panic when the outdoor unit steams
On cold Piedmont mornings your heat pump runs a defrost cycle, so you'll see steam and hear a whoosh as it switches over. That's normal. Worry only if ice stays caked on the coil for hours or the unit never clears it.
Give the outdoor unit two feet of breathing room
Your heat pump pulls heat from outside air year-round, so keep grass clippings, leaves, and mulch back about two feet on all sides. After our heavy Zone 8a storms, rinse the coil fins gently with a garden hose to keep airflow strong.
Set the thermostat and leave it
Heat pumps work best at a steady temperature. Big setbacks force the backup electric heat strips to kick on, which spikes your power bill in winter. Pick a comfortable number and let the system hold it instead of swinging it up and down.
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 Pumps 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 Pumps Questions, Answered
Our Piedmont climate has long humid summers near 90 and mild winters that rarely fall below 20. A heat pump cools and heats efficiently across that whole range, which is why it is the most common system in and around Mount Gilead.
Often it is a stuck reversing valve, a low refrigerant charge, or the unit running on backup heat. Sometimes it is just a defrost cycle, which is normal and short. If the cold air keeps up, give us a call and we will check it.
It depends on the age, the cost of the fix, and how the rest of the system is holding up. Many problems are simple repairs. We give you the honest call and the price up front so you can decide. We never push a replacement you do not need.
Yes. We work on all major makes and models. We also install new systems, including Heil units, and will help you size the right one for your home and our climate.
We aim to respond quickly and can often schedule same-day or next-day service when we have an opening. Call us and we will tell you straight when we can be there.
That is usually a clogged condensate line, which is common here because our humidity makes heat pumps pull a lot of moisture out of the air. It is a quick fix, and we will clear it and check that it drains right.
A few things. A simple fix like a capacitor or a clogged drain costs less than a refrigerant or compressor problem. The age and brand of your unit, how easy it is to reach, and whether parts are still made all play a part. We diagnose first, then give you an honest, fair price before any work starts. No surprises.
We check both the indoor and outdoor units since a heat pump is one system working year-round. That means refrigerant levels, the reversing valve, the defrost cycle, electrical connections, airflow, the condensate drain, and how it switches between heating and cooling. Then we tell you plainly what we found and what, if anything, needs attention.
Most heat pumps in our humid climate last about 12 to 15 years because they run for both heating and cooling. Watch for rising power bills, repairs that keep stacking up, rooms that won't hold temperature, or the backup heat running all the time. If you see those signs, we'll give you a straight answer on whether a repair makes sense or a new unit is the smarter money.
Ready for Heat Pumps? Talk to a Local HVAC Contractor
Call EM Contractors LLC for honest heat pumps in Mount Gilead, NC and the surrounding communities.