What Causes a Heat Pump in Kitty Hawk, NC, to Freeze Up?

A heat pump with frozen coils can prevent the system from cooling your home in Kitty Hawk, NC. Fortunately, our team can address common issues that cause heat pumps to freeze. Low refrigerant, poor airflow, a broken defrost sensor and a broken reversing valve are some of the reasons for a heat pump to freeze up.

Low Refrigerant in the Heat Pump

If you have a leak in your refrigerant piping, the pressure will drop. This leads to a decrease in temperature and makes it more likely that your heat pump will freeze.

If you have concerns about your system, we can determine if you have a refrigerant leak. If you do, our heating contractor will address it and recharge your system with refrigerant if needed.

Poor Airflow

A clogged filter indoors or anything that obstructs airflow around your heat pump’s outdoor unit can affect its operation. As a result, the coils will not absorb as much heat from the air and will become colder. If their temperatures drop low enough, water vapor in the air will freeze as it comes into contact with them.

Broken Defrost Sensor

Your heat pump should periodically run a defrost cycle to combat any frost or ice that builds up on its coils. Without a functioning defrost sensor, it may not run this cycle frequently enough or at all. We can easily detect and remedy this issue during a regular maintenance appointment.

Broken Reversing Valve

During defrost cycles, the reversing valve temporarily switches from heating to cooling mode. This allows warm refrigerant to flow to the coils and melt any ice that has formed. With a broken reversing valve, this switch won’t occur, and ice will keep accumulating on the coils.

When a heat pump freezes up due to any of these issues, it can have trouble performing and meeting your needs. If you have a frozen heat pump in Kitty Hawk, NC, contact North Beach Services Heating and Cooling for repairs.

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