Heat Pump Frozen Outside

Ice that isn't clearing between cycles keeps getting thicker and eventually puts the compressor at risk, so it's worth a call rather than waiting for a thaw.

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When this becomes an emergency

The outdoor coil is glazed over with solid ice rather than dusted with frost.
Meltwater from a previous cycle has refrozen into a slab under the unit.
The unit sounds different than usual, louder or laboring, while it runs.
The house is falling behind and the auxiliary heat indicator stays lit.

What a pro does

Two things get established quickly: how thick the ice is and whether defrost is functioning. A tech initiates a defrost, times how long the coil takes to clear, and confirms the reversing valve is actually shifting, because a valve that only partially strokes will leave the coil half frozen every single cycle. Sensors and defrost boards come next, and if those check out it's on to refrigerant charge. Elevation off the ground matters in a place that gets real snowfall, since a unit sitting too low ends up standing in its own meltwater and refreezes into a block that no defrost cycle can break through.

Frequently asked questions

Why does ice build up under the unit and not just on it?

Defrost meltwater has to drain away, and if the pad has settled or the ground is already frozen, that water pools and refreezes right where the unit sits.

Should a heat pump be raised off the ground here?

Mounting it higher than typical snow depth is standard practice in snowy climates, and a unit installed too low tends to have this problem every winter.

Does the auxiliary heat light mean something is wrong?

Not by itself, since backup heat is supposed to engage in extreme cold. Staying on constantly in ordinary winter weather is the part worth investigating.

How much ice is too much?

A light frost that disappears after a defrost cycle is fine. Ice thick enough to hide the fins or block the fan means the system isn't keeping up with itself.

Heat Pump Frozen Outside?

Get connected with a local pro now.

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Keep going

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