Heat Pump Down After an Ice Storm

What these storms do to a heat pump

The National Weather Service explains that when east winds blow during rain, a shallow layer of freezing air settles along the Columbia, and freezing rain falls over east and north Portland. During the January 2024 storm, KPTV reported Troutdale and Gresham struggling to get above the upper 30s while the east wind kept blowing.

• Ice coating the coil and fan so tightly the blade cannot turn
• A fan blade bent or cracked by falling ice or branches
• Burned boards and fuses from surges when power returns
• A unit buried in a drift of ice pellets with no airflow

Safe steps before the visit

1. If the outdoor fan is frozen in place, switch the thermostat to Emergency Heat or Aux Heat so the outdoor unit stops trying to run.
2. Do not chip or pry ice off the coil or fan. Let it melt, or leave it for the contractor.
3. Clear branches and ice from around the unit if you can reach it safely.
4. After a long outage, wait for power to stay on, then reset the system once at the breaker.

After the January 2024 storm

PGE said 524,600 customers lost power at some point during that storm, which ran from January 13 to January 22. Some Gresham families went eight days without heat. Many people found that a heat pump is no help without power. A furnace, a fireplace insert or a generator sized and wired for the air handler are worth talking through with a contractor.

Questions about Heat Pump After an Ice Storm in Gresham

Is it OK to run the heat pump while it is iced over?

Not if the fan cannot turn. Switch to emergency heat until the ice melts or a contractor clears it.

Can a generator run my heat pump?

Some can, if the generator is big enough and wired in properly with a transfer switch. Many portable generators can run a gas furnace blower but not a whole heat pump. Ask a contractor and an electrician.