Ice On HVAC Unit In Winter. Whenever it’s extremely cold outside, ice can build up on heat pumps, and a specific type of frost will cover them as well. Even though some amount of ice is normal, it becomes a serious issue whenever the whole unit is covered in ice and is also frozen solid. Air is required to pass between the fins of the outdoor unit in order to ensure that it’s able to operate correctly. In the event that the condensing fan motor is unable to pull air both in and out through the fins, this creates a major problem.
Every year, heat pumps are becoming more and more efficient; however, each one has a specific low temperature at which they are able to operate without freezing. If the temperature ends up becoming too cold, the heat pump will end up going into defrost mode temporarily in order to melt the ice. Defrost mode is designed to switch the heat pump into air conditioning mode for a short while until it unfreezes and is able to return to heat mode.
How to Remove Ice from Outside AC Unit
Whenever the heat pump goes into air conditioner mode, it should automatically melt and unfreeze the outdoor condenser. This is also part of defrost mode, which typically lasts for approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the unit begins heating once again. If the weather outdoors is extremely cold, the unit could end up going into a constant cycle of heat and defrost mode.
Will Frozen AC Fix Itself?
Ice On HVAC Unit In Winter. There are a few important things to check in order to determine whether your heat pump is freezing up. These include the following:
*Check to see if the air filter is dirty and replace it if it is. Airflow is extremely important in order for a heat pump to work properly.
*If no air is blowing from your air vents, this means that either the blower motor or some other part has gone bad within the unit. One useful method to test this is to manually set your thermostat to “Fan Only” mode before then seeing if any air ends up blowing out of the vents.
*Whenever a heat pump is operating, the large fan on the outdoor unit, commonly referred to as the condensing fan motor, should kick on at some point before then blowing air out through the outdoor unit fins.
*Take the time to check the outdoor unit fins for any and all debris that could potentially be blocking air from getting through, such as leaves and dirt.