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Your outdoor HVAC unit is designed to withstand the elements. However, if temperatures drop below a certain point, it can run into trouble. Here's how cold weather can affect your system and what you can do about it.
Snow and Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are great for milder winter climates such as Oklahoma's. They operate like an AC in reverse, pumping warm air into your home and cold air outside. They can be more than three times more efficient than gas furnaces.
However, when it snows, you need to be careful. If snow is allowed to build up around your outdoor unit, it can restrict airflow. As the coils get clogged with snow, the compressor stops working and the blower motor won't turn. If the weather gets below freezing, then ice can build up around the unit as well.
During cold weather, it's important to keep snow and ice away from your heat pump. There should be a defrost setting for the unit itself, but you'll also need to shovel away any snow piling up around it. It needs to be free of debris for at least 2 square feet on all sides in order to work properly.
Extreme Cold Weather
Especially if you have an older-model heat pump, it might have difficulty functioning in temperatures below 25 degrees. In fact, when the weather gets below 40, it starts losing efficiency. By the time it reaches 25, it may be less efficient than a regular gas furnace. Heat pumps work by extracting the heat from the air. The less heat there is to extract, the less efficiently your system will operate. Below a certain point, you'll need a backup heat source.
Fortunately, more modern heat pumps don't have this problem. They're designed to continue heating your home without losing efficiency, even at temperatures far below zero. Therefore, if you want to maintain your heating in cold weather, consider upgrading to a newer system.
To ensure your home comfort in all kinds of weather, contact us at Air Assurance. Broken Arrow homes count on us for quality heating and cooling solutions.