Why Is My Heat Pump in Upper St. Clair, PA, Freezing Up?

A heat pump provides a terrific way to heat a home in Upper St. Clair, PA — except when it freezes. Harsh winter conditions can wreak havoc on a heat pump if you don’t properly maintain it. Here are some reasons you may be dealing with a heat pump that keeps freezing up:

Faulty Defrost Control Board

The defrost control board signals to your heat pump when it should go into defrost mode. When there are issues with this component, your heat pump won’t defrost as frequently as it should, resulting in icing on the outdoor condenser unit.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Refrigerant is what your heat pump uses to absorb heat from the outside and push it into your home. When the refrigerant level is low, your heat pump won’t circulate enough heat through the system. Consequently, your heat pump will freeze up when it’s cold outside.

Faulty Outdoor Fan

A faulty outdoor fan can lead to an imbalance in the heat exchange process. Your heat pump’s outdoor fan keeps warm air moving through the unit and into your home. You need to schedule regular maintenance just as you would for a traditional HVAC system to extend the life of your heat pump and keep its components working correctly.

Reversing Valve Issues

During the cold winter months, your heat pump will go into defrost mode to prevent ice accumulation. In this mode, the refrigerant flow reverses and warm air travels from inside your home back into the heat pump. When the valve that facilitates this reverse flow is faulty, your heat pump ends up with freezing issues.

Winter presents several challenges that can cause your heat pump to freeze up. If you need expert heat pump repair services, contact us at Greyfox Heating & Cooling today to schedule an appointment to fix the problem.

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