I have ice forming on the outside of my heater. Should I be concerned and what can I do about it?

Answer 1

Lets assume you have a heat pump and a compressor outside and that is where ice is forming.

A heat pump heater out there has a DEFROST CYCLE. That thing working properly will defrost every so often depending on outside conditions if it is WORKING PROPERLY.

When it defrosts, your AUXILARY HEAT comes on inside the house and the heat pump actually acts like an air conditioner then pumping heat to defrost the outside heater coil.

That is how that works.

In the mean time, switch to AUX heat on the thermostat. That uses inside electric heaters and shuts down the compressor outside.


Call a repairman its a complicated thing. You can damage the compressor because that compressor cools using freon that needs to be circulating around the system.

Answer 2

Can't let you go without at least one answer.

I assume that your heater is a heat pump type and that the part that is icy is the one outside. This is pretty much normal and shouldn't create problems (is it heating OK). Don't, I repeat, DO NOT try to knock the ice off as you could inadvertently damage some component which could affect the heating capability of the unit.

Hope I helped.

Answer 3

IF YOU HAVE A HEAT PUMP:

It could either be low on freon.

Or, the condensor coils on your air handler are REALLY nasty & clogged up.

This will cost you TONS of electricity, and eventually RUIN the system.

It will cost a lot for the AC/Heat guy to do it, but it will $AVE you TONS of money & the money it will eventually cost to replace the entire system.