Wondering why your heat pump is covered in ice?
What’s the deal with freezing heat pumps in Tampa’s warm climate? Finding a heat pump frozen over is perhaps a bit shocking, but there are reasonable explanations for this phenomenon.
We highly recommend heat pumps for Florida homes, but it’s important to understand how they work so that you can avoid unnecessary repairs.
To help you troubleshoot why your heat pump is covered in ice, let’s review 5 potential causes:
Only a qualified HVAC technician can say for sure why your heat pump is frozen. But to expedite the repair process, head to your circuit breaker and turn off your heat pump’s power supply. Your heat pump should defrost within a matter of hours.
Call Red Cap Plumbing and Air or schedule an appointment online. Our highly trained and courteous technicians provide some of the fastest response times in Tampa.
Clogged filters will cause your heat pump to ice over.
A clogged air filter is one of the simplest explanations for ice on a heat pump. Airflow is blocked from circulating freely when the filter is caked with dust, hair, dirt, and debris. Without sufficient warm air intake, your heat pump can't balance out temperature, which eventually causes ice to accumulate.
Check to see if your air filter is clogged. If you see an accumulation of dirt and debris, replace it with a new filter.
Air filters need to be changed regularly, especially in South Florida, where we use heat pumps year-round. To avoid the hassle of DIY maintenance, consider joining a monthly maintenance program. Red Cap’s affordable maintenance plan provides two free HVAC tune-ups per year. We check your air filters at every service, and we’ll even send you automated service reminders so that you never have to worry about heat pump maintenance or clogged filters again!
Low refrigerant can completely freeze over your heat pump.
Heat pumps harness a liquid chemical refrigerant to transfer heat. The heat pump's refrigerant absorbs heat from the air and then dumps it outside in cooling mode. Meanwhile, the process reverses in winter. Your heat pump pulls warmth from the outdoor air and then carries it inside.
When your heat pump is low on refrigerant, the system will struggle to absorb heat. When not enough heat is absorbed, your system will over-cool the air (just like with clogged filters) and eventually freeze.
If you believe low refrigerant is the cause of your freezing heat pump, schedule a heat pump repair with Red Cap’s licensed pros. We can respond in as little as four hours to help you get your heat pump defrosted and back in working order. Our technicians are always courteous, upfront about pricing, and ready to help.
Need weekend service? No problem! Red Cap never charges an extra fee for Saturday appointments.
By now, you’re aware that dirty air filters can lead to a frozen heat pump, but so can dirty evaporator coils. Without routine cleaning, the coils can accumulate dust and grime, preventing them from effectively absorbing and transferring heat. And when dirty coils fail to absorb adequate heat, they can freeze over and cause your heat pump to stop working.
Cleaning your heat pump’s delicate evaporator coils isn’t a DIY job, so it’s best to call in the trained professionals to clean them efficiently.
A malfunctioning heat pump reversing valve can increase your energy bills.
Your heat pump’s reversing valve allows your system to transition between heating and cooling modes. If the valve malfunctions or gets stuck, the heat pump cannot switch between these modes, causing a frozen heat pump. However, we can’t say for sure without a proper inspection first. Schedule a service call, and we’ll send one of our friendly and knowledgeable technicians to assess why your heat pump is frozen.
It’s essential to get this addressed as quickly as possible. Not only do you need a reliable heat pump, but your energy bills might increase fast if your heat pump’s reversing valve isn’t working!
Within your heat pump is a blower fan that keeps the airflow in your heat pump strong. If the motor malfunctions, the blower fan won’t circulate as much air, leading to potential breakdowns.
One big problem with reduced airflow is that it causes an abundance of moisture. When temperatures drop outside, that moisture can lead to a freezing heat pump.
Suspect that the blower motor is the cause of your frozen heat pump? It’s best to call the professionals at Red Cap. Our technicians are highly trained and know how to clean, repair, or replace the blower motor to quickly get your heat pump back into working order.
Contact Red Cap for an ice-free heat pump.
If your heat pump is covered in ice, call the professionals at Red Cap Plumbing and Air. We’ll troubleshoot what’s causing your heat pump to freeze over, along with clear and upfront pricing for repairs. We’ve proudly earned hundreds of 5-star reviews from Tampa homeowners, and we’d love to show you why!
Join the Red Cap family today. Call us or request an appointment online.