Topic: HVAC question

[Cvillechopper]

The wife noticed our heatpump units (the outside ones) looking a bit frosty a few days ago.  I looked and the outside was covered by a thin layer of white frost and there is some ice building up on what looks like the compressor inside each unit (we have dual zone).  It's still like that as of this morning when we headed out to work. 

Is this normal?  Are we looking at a costly repair coming soon?  Anyone know about HVAC stuff? 

[kghost]

I know on a freon system..its usually indicative of a low freon condition.

[Bob Wessner]

Have a look at this, sounds like what kghost was describing. If it's just low on refrigerant, shouldn't be too costly, but that raises the question of a leak that should be hunted down.

http://www.toad.net/~jsmeenen/ice.html

[Cvillechopper]

That makes sense except it's for the inside coils.  This is on the outdoor unit.  Am I just not understanding the article (very possible)?

I've tried googling and found posts saying it's nothing or it's the end of the heat-pump.  At 3 years old, it better not be the end

Guess it's time to call a repairman.  Better than potentially letting it get worse.

[Bob Wessner]

Did you click on the link (farther down) that describes the outside freezing situation? Can't contribute much personally. Heat pumps are useless up here.

[Cvillechopper]

Thanks.  I didn't see the link when I read the article.  So it looks like it's a defrost timing issue and shouldn't be a big problem if it is resolving itself periodically as it's supposed to.  We've only noticed it a few times but I'll make an effort to keep an eye on it and see if it cycles like it should.

Time to check off my "one thing learned a day" box.

[mrblasty]

I would say it sounds like your deicer fuse is blown due to ice build up but I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to HVAC.  Sorry if I scared you, I'm just causing trouble on the internet tonight.