If your heat pump is steaming, making a loud whoosh, and briefly blowing cooler air indoors during an ice storm, that's almost certainly the defrost cycle doing exactly what it was designed to do. The unit reverses itself for a few minutes to melt frost off the outdoor coil, then goes back to heating. What is not normal: a solid block of ice encasing the whole unit, ice that never clears through multiple cycles, or the unit sitting in standing water or under a dripping roofline.
This guide covers the question above in depth for Oklahoma City homes and businesses. Here is what it walks through:
- What you're seeing is probably defrost, and it's supposed to happen
- Why frost forms on the outdoor coil in the first place
- Normal vs. not normal: how to tell
- What to do and what to absolutely not do
- Why your bill climbs during an ice storm
- The setup problems that cause ice storm trouble
- When to call
What makes this guide useful: A side-by-side photo-style comparison panel: "Normal Frost" vs. "Call Us Ice" - four paired visuals showing (1) light frost on coil fins vs. solid ice sheet across the coil face, (2) steam plume during defrost vs. ice encasing the fan blade, (3) clear water draining at the base vs. the unit frozen into a standing puddle, (4) frost on the top grille vs. icicles from a gutter directly onto the cabinet. Each pair captioned with the verdict and the action. Paired with a "Defrost Cycle in Four Minutes" timeline showing what happens indoors and outdoors at each stage, minute by minute, so a homeowner can match what they're hearing to the stage. Manufacturer pages explain the reversing valve; nobody shows a scared homeowner what normal looks like versus what broken looks like.
If the ice isn't clearing after several defrost cycles, or your unit is frozen solid, contact Serrato Heat and Air at (327) 210-5999. Ask about availability when you call.
