01/25/2026
What should I do during an ice or snow storm?
During periods of heavy snow or freezing rain, it may be a good idea to manually switch your system to Emergency Heat if you’re concerned that your outdoor heat pump is not properly defrosting or melting ice during its normal defrost cycle.
Using Emergency Heat prevents the outdoor unit from running, helping protect it from ice buildup and potential damage.
Once the storm has passed and outdoor temperatures rise above freezing, you can switch your system back to normal heat mode.
This setting relies only on your indoor heating components and helps safeguard your outdoor unit from winter storm damage caused by ice accumulation.
🔹 Covering your outdoor unit:
If your system is turned off, it is okay to cover the outdoor unit during the storm. Just be sure to remove the cover before turning the system back on or switching out of Emergency Heat, as proper airflow is essential.
⚡ Energy use:
Yes, Emergency Heat does use more electricity. However, using it for a short period is far less costly than repairing or replacing a damaged outdoor unit.
This post is meant to be helpful—let’s be kind and supportive to one another as we get through this winter weather together.