What Should You Do Whenever Your HVAC Unit Freezes in the Winter

by | Feb 8, 2023 | Air Conditioner In Winter, Heating and Cooling Austin, Heating and Cooling Las Cruces, Heating and Cooling Las Cruces NM, hvac holiday safety texas, hvac holiday tips texas, hvac las cruces, hvac new mexico, HVAC Tips and Tricks, HVAC Tips For Homeowners, hvac tips for winter, hvac tips for wintertime, Las Cruces HVAC Maintenance, Las Cruces Winter Weather, new mexico hvac, new mexico hvac maintenance, News & Info, Winter Energy Saving Tips New Mexico

Frozen HVAC Unit In Winter. Perhaps one of the most inconvenient and costly situations to experience during the winter season is that of a frozen HVAC unit. Having the unit serviced on a regular basis by a licensed professional is perhaps the best and most effective method to prevent this kind of issue from happening in the first place. Thankfully, there are many different things that can be done yourself in order to solve the issue prior to making any calls to a professional.

What to Do When Your AC Unit Freezes Up

The first thing to keep in mind is that the presence of either ice or frost on your home’s HVAC unit is not always a bad sign. This is because moisture in the air actually condenses on the unit itself before then freezing in the cold air. HVAC units are designed to deal with ice thanks to a process involving running a periodic defrost cycle, which heats the outside of the unit itself and melting away any ice or snow that may have accumulated on it. On the other hand, whenever there is too much ice, snow, or frost that has built up on a unit, the defrost cycle will not be able to melt it all, thereby affecting the unit’s ability to operate properly.

Some of the most common signs of a frozen HVAC unit include the following:

  • Restricted airflow that results in the accumulation of ice
  • Not clearing away any snow, leaves, or other forms of debris that has built up around the unit
  • Air filters that prohibit an adequate amount of airflow
  • Parts inside the unit that are either malfunctioning or failing, thereby resulting in an excess amount of moisture buildup

In the event that you believe your HVAC unit may be frozen, there are a few steps that you can take on your own to confirm that this is the case prior to contacting a professional. These include the following:

  1. Turn off your HVAC unit
  2. Turn your blower on in order to thaw all of the evaporator coils
  3. If you feel any amount of warm air, this is a sign that your unit may potentially be frozen

Heat Pump Frozen in Winter

Frozen HVAC Unit In Winter. Another common HVAC-related issue during the winter season is that of a frozen heat pump. If you find that this part of your unit has accumulated any amount of ice, there are a few steps that you can follow in order to successfully defrost it. These include the following:

  1. Go to your circuit breaker and turn the heat pump off from there, as this will prevent it from suddenly energizing while you’re working on the issue
  2. Spray the heat pump with a garden hose until the ice melts
  3. In the event that it’s warm enough, you will be able to reactivate the heat pump before then running it on fan mode until all of the ice melts