As below-freezing temperatures and freezing rain move in, experts are urging homeowners to take extra steps to protect their HVAC systems from potentially costly damage.
Experts warn that the freezing rain expected with the upcoming storm could be especially harmful to outdoor HVAC units. They recommend turning on your emergency heat system and then covering the unit with a tarp.
Joshua Trent, trades manager with Davis Heating and Cooling, said freezing rain can cause ice to build up quickly on outdoor units, leading to serious damage.
“You have a bunch of ice that will build up with this freezing rain on these grates, and then it will start going down the sides and your fan can make contact with that ice, and that will make the very terrible sounds and cause damage that gets expensive very fast,” Trent said.
To prevent damage, Trent said homeowners should switch their system to emergency heat, found on their thermostat, which shuts off the outdoor unit. Then cover the unit with a tarp to protect it from the elements. He stresses the system must be in emergency heat before covering the unit.
“If (the unit) is running when it’s covered and it cannot breathe, it will overheat,” Trent said. “It will damage the blower motor, the fan, and the compressor, which are very expensive components to replace.”
While emergency heat can be more costly to run, Trent said in some situations it is worth it to avoid major repairs caused by ice.
He also stressed the importance of protecting household plumbing by keeping cabinet doors open, letting faucets drip, and covering outdoor spigots to prevent freezing.
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