Tags: North Port, North Port Ductless

As we get deeper into winter, you may start to notice ice forming on the outside part of your ductless system. This isn’t necessarily something to be concerned about, but it can be under the right circumstances. Let’s take a look at where ductless ice comes from, when it can be dangerous to the system, and when to do something about it.

Ice

We don’t exactly get sub-freezing temperatures around here, so why would ice form on your ductless system in the first place? It has to do with how the system heats your home. When in heating mode, a ductless mini split will evaporate refrigerant in its outdoor coil to siphon thermal energy from the air around it. If the air is already cold enough, this can drop it below freezing and cause ice to start forming on the unit. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue because the system is equipped with a defrost cycle. This is when the system reverses the flow of refrigerant to heat up the coil outside temporarily, melting any built-up ice off of it. If that defrost cycle fails for any reason, however, it can cause serious problems for the system.

Problems

If the ice is allowed to engulf enough of the unit outside, the system will lose access to the thermal energy in the air that it needs to heat the home. The heating output of your system will drop significantly as a result. If the ice is not dealt with quickly enough, it will spread to other parts of the system and cause it to break down. If you notice that your ductless system is more than 50% covered in ice, you should consider calling for repairs.

Cliffs Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. provides ductless repair services throughout Port Charlotte, FL. Call today to schedule an appointment.