The hottest day of the summer is not the time for your heat pump to stop working. If you find that it’s as sweltering in your house as it is outside, there’s a good chance your heat pump isn’t working properly, or at all.

If you inspect your heat pump and find ice in or around it, then you have a frozen heat pump. But why is your Heat Pump Freezing Up In The Summer? Because it’s so hot out, you’d think that nothing could freeze outside. There are a few things you can try to get your heat pump working again, but in some cases, you may need to call for a repair. 

To prevent your heat pump or air conditioning unit from freezing up, be sure to have it regularly inspected and cleaned by one of the professional heating and cooling technicians at “Doc” Dancer. Annual heat pump tune-ups can save you a lot of money on repairs in the future. 

What to Do If Your Heat Pump Isn’t Working

If you think your heat pump system isn’t working, the first thing you should do is check your thermostat. It may sound silly, but many people accidentally turn only the fan on and not the cool air, or their thermostat’s batteries are dead. 

If you’ve confirmed this is not the case, then go outside and inspect the heat pump. If you find a big block of ice in or around the unit, then you have a frozen heat pump. Try to run the defrost cycle to melt the ice. Heat pumps have a defrost cycle to prevent them from freezing in the winter, but sometimes this cycle can be helpful for situations like this. 

Once the ice melts, try running it again and go back inside to see if you feel cool air coming out of your vents. If things seem better, keep an eye on your heat pump to make sure it doesn’t start freezing again. If you’ve melted the ice and your heat pump still isn’t working, there are a few other things you can try, but you should be prepared to call Doc Dancer for heat pump repair. 

Common Causes for Your Heat Pump to Freeze up in the Summer

There are a couple of reasons why your heat pump might freeze up in the summer. Most of these reasons should be addressed by an HVAC technician.

  • Poor Airflow. When was the last time you replaced the air filter in your home’s HVAC system? If the answer is never, or last year, then you are way overdue. Replace your air filters every 90 days to ensure proper airflow to your unit. If you use a filter media, you should replace that annually in most cases. The lack of airflow from dirty air filters can cause your coil to freeze. Doc Dancer can help you find the proper filters for your home, and set you up with regular deliveries from FilterFetch.
  • Your Evaporator Coil Is Too Dirty. Your heat pump works by absorbing the heat with a cold refrigerant that runs through your evaporator coil. When this coil gets dirty, it has a hard time cooling the air, which may be the reason your heat pump is freezing. You can clean it yourself, but it is a dirty job. If you mess up, you may cause more damage to the heat pump, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
  • The Heat Pump Is Running Low On Refrigerant. When your refrigerant levels are low, your system’s pressure will drop, which causes the coil to become colder than usual. This is the most common reason for heat pumps freezing up in the summer. You’ll need to call Doc Dancer to add more refrigerant and check your system for refrigerant leaks. 

Call Doc Dancer to Fix Your Frozen Heat Pump Today

Frozen heat pumps can cause serious issues, so don’t wait. Call Doc Dancer right away when your heat pump freezes up in the summer because that is a sign there is some issue going on with your heat pump that is best solved by an experienced heat pump service technician. Schedule service with us today.