During winter, one of your greatest concerns should be dealing with an iced up heat pump. This happens when the humidity levels reach 70 degrees and above and the temperature goes below 40 degrees. Since heat pumps are exposed to natural elements, it is common to find a layer of frost or ice covering the pump.
When a thick coat of ice covers your heat pump’s coils, it disrupts the heat transfer between the external air and the refrigerant. As a result, your High Desert heat pump fails to function properly and with time becomes useless.
Possible Reasons for Failures to Defrost
In normal circumstances, you should not worry about cold temperatures because HVAC systems are designed to deal with the accumulation of ice through a defrost cycle. When there is excess ice buildup, your heat pump goes into defrost mode in which case it turns from heating to air conditioning. During this state, the pump starts to heat the outdoor coils to melt away the frost that is accumulating and restore the pump to its normal condition. However, in some cases, a heat pump may fail to de-ice after half an hour in defrost mode. Issues, such as faulty sensors or controls or faulty relays, can cause the defrost cycle not to work properly.
During the cold season, you should keep an eye on snow, water dripping from your gutters and freezing rain. If your High Desert heat pump is covered in ice, do not attempt to chip the ice away as you could easily break a loose fan coil. The first measure you should take is to get rid of snow or debris that is blocking your unit. If there is a leakage in your gutters, call a professional to fix it. It is also advisable to clean and change your filters on a monthly basis.
Book an Appointment Today!
It is important that your High Desert heat pump is regularly maintained to maximize efficiency and comfort. If you do experience issues with your heat pump, you can request a service visit from one of our professionals at Elite Climate Control. Just click here to get started!
