It is usual for some ice to pile up on your heat pump’s outdoor unit during winter. However, if the ice does not go away, your heat pump could have a problem. We will go through the reasons why your system may freeze up in Madison County, VA.
Your Defrost Cycle Is Not Functioning Optimally
Air contains moisture. When the temperatures outside continue going down, the moisture turns into ice. This ice may accumulate on your outdoor unit, reducing its ability to absorb heat. The defrost control board signals the unit to melt this ice.
If the board has problems, it cannot initiate the defrosting process. Hence, the ice remains on your heat pump. One of our technicians can help repair your system and restore the defrost control board to optimal performance.
A Reversing Valve Problem
A reversing valve is a component that makes a heat pump different from other cooling and heating appliances. The reversing valve changes the direction of the refrigerant flow, enabling the heat pump to cool your home during the hotter months and heat your home during the cooler months.
The heat pump heats your home by absorbing heat from the outside air and ground and transferring it indoors. When ice accumulates on the outdoor unit, the reversing valve changes the direction of the refrigerant flow. Once that happens, the system starts absorbing heat from inside your home and relaying it to the outdoor unit to melt the ice.
The reversing valve then changes the direction of refrigerant flow when all the ice melts, and the heat pump starts relaying heat from outside into your home. When the reversing valve breaks down, it cannot alter the direction of the refrigerant flow. Consequently, ice continues accumulating on the outdoor unit.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant levels drop when the system has a leak. Damage to the refrigerant line may be the cause of the leak. Consequently, your heat pump may be unable to circulate enough heat, and it remains cold, causing ice to build up.
Our technicians will show up as soon as possible to take care of the problem causing your heat pump to freeze. Contact Duct-Rite Mechanical, LLC for outstanding heating services in Madison County, VA.
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