My heat pump is iced up in winter — is that normal?

Seeing ice on the outdoor unit in winter worries a lot of homeowners. Good news: a little frost is completely normal.

Automatic defrost

Every heat pump frosts somewhat while drawing heat from cold, damp air. It then runs an automatic defrost cycle — you will see steam rise, and the unit returns to heating. That is normal.

When to worry

A thick block of ice that persists for hours, fully encases the coil, or keeps returning signals a problem: low refrigerant, a failed fan, blocked drainage or a faulty defrost sensor.

What never to do

Never chip the ice with a knife or hammer, and do not pour hot water on it — you risk damaging the coil. Shut the unit off and call a technician.

Abnormal icing? Our technicians diagnose and correct the cause quickly — get in touch or see our heat pump services.