If you know even a little bit about the operation of the heat pump that keeps your household cool in summer and warm in winter, you\u2019ll understand that the outside unit needs to absorb heat from the ambient air and carry it indoors in order for it to work in heating mode.<\/p>\n
Should\u00a0you notice that there is ice developing along the outdoor cabinet of the heat pump, it may worry you. Is this normal during the winter?<\/p>\n
The answer is, confusingly, both yes<\/i> and no<\/i>. But we will quickly unconfuse you below:<\/p>\nYes, it\u2019s normal for the heat pump to have ice on it<\/h3>\n
When the temperature falls below 40\u00b0F and the relative humidity is high (around 70%), then it\u2019s common for frost to begin to form along the heat pump\u2019s outdoor coils. This is because as the coils absorb thermal energy from the air, they also absorb moisture that will form along the coils\u2019 surface, where it will freeze because of the low temperatures. The heat pump has defrost controls to prevent this ice from accumulating and blocking the absorption of heat through the coils. The defrost control will periodically start a defrost cycle that switches the direction that heat moves through the coils, releasing heat and melting off the frost.<\/p>\n
If the frost forming on your heat pump doesn\u2019t melt away after two hours or so, then there may be a problem that will require technicians to repair it. One possibility is that the defrost controls themselves have broken and aren\u2019t activating the reversing valve that changes the direction of heat exchange in the pump. Another possibility is that the reversing valve itself had failed, so there\u2019s no way to switch the heat pump\u2019s mode (which will be bad news when spring arrives and you need the heat pump to start cooling you off). The worst-case scenario is that the unit is leaking refrigerant and losing its heat exchange abilities. This needs immediate remedy, so call on professionals as soon as possible for fast heating service in Lorton<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oasis Heating, A\/C & Refrigeration offers repair services for heat pumps<\/a> in Lorton, VA.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n