A certain amount of frost on your heat pump in the winter is normal. However, ice build-up can eventually stop your heat pump from working altogether. When should you interfere with the ice build-up on your heat pump and defrost it? We’ll explain how it all works below.
Why Do Heat Pumps Freeze in Winter?
Heat pumps work by taking heat from outside, even in the worst of winter, and putting it inside of your home. That can leave the outside of the heat pump very cold, as it is sucking all of the heat away. The heat pump can also create condensation while it works, which gathers on the outside of the system and can freeze in the cold.
Heat pump manufacturers know that this will happen, so they build in a defrost cycle to the heat pump. When the ice build-up gets to be too much, it will begin to use its heat to melt away the ice. This should happen very quickly, within the half-hour, so your home won’t lose much heat while the heat pump focuses on melting ice.
Looking for a professional to take a look at your frozen heat pump? Contact our team today.
When is There Too Much Ice?
If some ice is normal, how do you know when your heat pump has collected too much ice for too long?
Here are some signs:
- Your heat pump takes more than a half-hour to defrost
- Your heat pump has stopped working and there is ice on it
- There is ice on the top of the heat pump and not just the sides
- The ice build-up is an inch or thicker, or more than usual
- Your heat pump doesn’t seem to produce as much heat
- The heat from your heat pump doesn’t seem to go as far as it used to
- Your heat pump never seems to defrost the ice
How to Defrost Your Heat Pump
In general, you should let the professionals defrost your heat pump, as there may be an underlying issue causing the problem. This could include a refrigerant leak, a clogged filter, poor airflow in your venting, and several other issues.
Still, there are some troubleshooting tips you might consider to help your heat pump defrost properly:
- Make sure that gutters are not leaking onto the unit
- Make sure that air registers in your home are free and unobstructed
- Replace the filter on your heat pump regularly
- Clean away leaves, grasses, sticks, snow and more debris from the heat pump regularly
Need Help with Your Heat Pump?
An icy heat pump won’t work well and will cost you more in utilities if it runs at all. You can get the help you need to keep your heat pump free of ice at Air Treatment ClimateCare.
