While the Broken Arrow area might get away with just a few inches of snow some winters, a weighty snowfall of several feet isn't unheard of. Learning how snow like this can affect your HVAC system will help you protect the system better when that blanket of white piles up.
Snow Damage
The weight of snow alone is unlikely to damage the outdoor unit of a standard heat pump or AC, but a particularly weighty snowfall can get heavy enough to bring down a window unit or even the wall-mounted outdoor condenser of a ductless mini split. Icicles and snow that build up on roof eaves or branches above your outdoor unit are a more likely cause of damage. These can fall with enough force to crush evaporator fins or any internal component they happen to land on. Moisture from heavy snow is another issue. If the unit freezes over, the expanding ice can deform the fins.
To prevent damage, regularly brush snow off your outdoor unit and shovel it away, but avoid using sharp tools to remove ice. Never cover your heat pump. If it ices over, the defrost cycle should remove the ice. It's fine to cover your AC with a sheet of plywood weighed down by bricks, but never use a cover that holds in moisture.
Blockages
A fuel-burning furnace exhausts carbon monoxide out of the house through an exhaust pipe usually located on the roof or near the foundation. A weighty snowfall can clog this pipe and cause deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas to flow back into your home. Most furnaces have a safety switch that shuts the system down when there's a blockage, but a partial blockage can interfere with your system's performance without triggering the safety. Stay safe by regularly inspecting your furnace's exhaust and use your hands to gently remove any snow buildup you find.
For more tips on keeping your system safe from a weighty snowfall, talk with us at Air Assurance.