Why Is My Heat Pump Icing Over?

If you notice ice building up on the inside part of your heat pump this summer, you have a problem. Heat pump ice is a symptom of a serious problem with the system, one that needs to be fixed as soon as possible before the entire thing breaks down. Let’s take a look at what causes heat pump ice, and what it can do if you don’t have it fixed in time.

The Cause

Your heat pump siphons heat out of your home’s air by evaporating refrigerant. This is done in an evaporator coil located in the indoor portion of your heat pump. The air temperature around the evaporator coil is constantly dropping, and remains low enough for condensation to form on the coil. Typically, the warm air flowing from the ducts prevents the temperature around the coil from dropping too low. If the air flow is ever interrupted, though, the temperature will quickly drop below freezing. This will cause the condensate to freeze, forming ice.

Problems with Ice

There are many problems that heat pump ice can cause for the system. First, while the evaporator coil is frozen over the system will be unable to siphon heat from the air in your ducts. This will cause the heat pump output to drop significantly. If the ice is allowed to build up far enough, the weight of it will warp the coil, requiring that it be replaced. The ice can also spread down the refrigerant line to other parts of the system, causing them to malfunction and break down. This is why you need to call for repairs as soon as you see ice forming on your system.

Speedy Air Conditioning Service offers heat pump repair services throughout Palm City, FL. If you need heat pump repair services, call today for an appointment.