Heat Pump Frozen Outside

A coil packed with ice can't pull heat out of the outdoor air, and running it that way stresses the compressor, so call before that turns into a bigger repair.

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When this becomes an emergency

Ice has filled the space between the coil fins instead of coating them lightly.
The unit hasn't run a defrost cycle in hours despite obvious buildup.
Water from a gutter or a roof valley is dripping onto the cabinet and refreezing.
The supply air indoors has dropped to lukewarm and stayed there.

What a pro does

The question isn't whether there's ice, it's whether defrost is clearing it. A tech forces a defrost cycle and watches: if the reversing valve shifts, the outdoor fan stops, and the coil clears within a normal window, the hardware is fine and something else caused the buildup. If it doesn't clear, the search narrows to the defrost control, the coil sensor, the reversing valve, or a charge that has drifted low. Drainage gets checked too, because a downspout or a roof line dumping onto the unit will refreeze faster than any defrost cycle can keep up with, and that's an installation fix rather than a part.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a heat pump defrost in cold weather?

Typically every thirty to ninety minutes depending on conditions and the control strategy, with each cycle lasting a matter of minutes.

Is it normal to hear a loud whoosh when defrost starts?

Yes, that's the reversing valve changing direction. It startles people the first time but it's the system working as designed.

Does ice buildup mean the refrigerant is low?

It's one possibility among several. A failed sensor, a stuck valve, or plain drainage onto the unit produce the same picture, so charge gets verified rather than assumed.

Should anything be done to the ice on the outdoor unit?

Leave it alone and shut the system off at the thermostat. Ice on the coil is a symptom of a defrost problem, and clearing it by hand risks bending the fins, which permanently reduces how well the coil works.

Heat Pump Frozen Outside?

Get connected with a local pro now.

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