A frozen heat pump in Louisville, KY cannot regulate your home’s temperatures to your liking. Therefore, it is essential to understand why your system freezes in order to adopt habits that prevent this problem. In this blog, we will discuss some reasons for a heat pump freezing up.
A Clogged Air Filter
An air filter catches impurities in your indoor air, allowing the heat pump to circulate clean air. With time, the impurities clog it, thus preventing the indoor air from passing through freely.
Poor airflow can cause the system to freeze. Be sure to change your air filter every 30 to 90 days.
A Dirty Evaporator Coil
Dust and other contaminants accumulate on the evaporator coil with time. If left uncorrected, the dirty coil cannot absorb enough heat since the contaminants create a barrier that hinders heat absorption.
The coil then remains frozen since it can’t absorb enough heat to melt the ice layer coating it. Scheduling regular maintenance services helps to keep all the heat pump components clean at all times.
Refrigerant Leaks or a Faulty Reversing Valve
Refrigerant is a fluid in your heat pump that absorbs and transports heat from one section to another. When your outdoor unit freezes over, the reversing valve changes the direction of the refrigerant flow, and the fluid moves heat from your house to the outdoor unit to melt the accumulated ice. This is called a defrost cycle.
If the reversing valve is faulty, it cannot change the direction of the refrigerant flow. As a result, the refrigerant cannot transport heat from your house to the outdoor unit, so it will be unable to defrost and then continue heating your home.
Also, if the refrigerant leaks, the remaining amount cannot move enough heat to the outdoor coil to melt the accumulated ice. A technician can repair a faulty reversing valve and refrigerant leaks to restore your system’s efficiency.
Instead of continually scraping the ice off your system, allow a technician to inspect it to find out why it remains frozen. You can contact Elder Heating and Air for outstanding heat pump services if you have a frozen system. Our clients know us for successfully eliminating HVAC issues and restoring their comfort.
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