What It Means When Your Heat Pump Has Ice on It

If you notice ice building up on your heat pump, don’t be alarmed. It’s not necessarily a problem, but it can become one under the wrong circumstances. Most of the time, you have nothing to worry about. However, it’s important to know when heat pump ice is something to worry about. Read on to find out where heat pump ice comes from, and when you need to call for repairs.

What Causes It

Your heat pump heats your home by evaporating refrigerant to absorb heat from the surrounding air. It then sends the refrigerant gas inside to be condensed, releasing the heat into the home. There are two side-effects to this process. First, the temperature around the coil drops. Second, condensation forms on the coil as the air is rapidly cooled past the dew point. The combination of these two factors, if the initial temperature is low enough, causes the condensate to freeze on the coil and form ice.

When It Is a Problem

Under the wrong circumstances, ice can be a huge problem for your heat pump. It blocks access to the outside air, which means the coil can’t siphon any more heat for the home. The weight of the ice can also warp the coil, causing it to require replacement before the heat pump can operate properly again. Normally, heat pumps use defrost cycles to melt ice off of the coil every once in a while. If your heat pump is mostly or entirely covered in ice, though, it probably means that the defrost cycle has malfunctioned. In that case, you need to call for repairs as soon as possible.

If your heat pump needs repair, call Speedy Air Conditioning Service. We offer heat pump repair services throughout Stuart, FL.