If your heat pump looks like this picture, it could mean that there is a problem. Frost on a heat pump is normal in the winter, ice is not. If your heat pump is covered in ice this indicates a problem. First thing to do is to check your filter, a dirty filter will limit air flow and will cause ice to build up. If a dirty filter is not the culprit, then your system needs to be put on emergency heat at the thermostat. This will allow your air handler to heat the home and it will bypass the heat pump permitting it to melt. Once the ice has melted you will need to call us to diagnose the problem with your heat pump. If the ice is allowed to build up, the coils will be blocked by ice and this will not allow the proper heat transfer between the refrigerant and outside air. You may notice that the system is running all the time, or your electric bill is higher than normal these are indications that the system is struggling. Left unattended the heat pump will eventually build up enough ice that it can: damage fan blades, crush the outdoor coil; which can cause a refrigerant leak, and/or cause a compressor failure. Any of these problems can lead to a catastrophic failure of the heat pump.

Call us if you have any questions about your heating system, 360-683-4245, we are happy to answer your questions.