After the Ice Storm: An AC Safety Checklist for Triad Homeowners

Greensboro doesn't get Buffalo winters — we get something trickier: ice storms. Every few years a system rolls up the Piedmont, coats everything in a half-inch of ice, and brings limbs down across Guilford County. When it's your heat pump's only job to keep the house warm, that storm stress matters.

Before You Restart Anything

If the power went out, give the system a few minutes after restoration before it kicks on — most modern units have built-in delays for exactly this reason. If a limb came down anywhere near the outdoor unit, do a visual check before restoring power at the disconnect: bent fan blades, crushed cabinet panels or kinked refrigerant lines mean the system stays off until a technician looks at it.

Never chip ice off the unit with tools. Heat pumps defrost themselves; if yours is encased and not clearing after a few hours of above-freezing weather, that's a service call — not a DIY project with a screwdriver.

Warning Signs That Mean Call Us

• Loud buzzing or grinding when the unit starts after the storm
• The outdoor fan doesn't spin, or spins slowly
• Ice that never clears from the outdoor coil, even on mild days
• The breaker trips when the system tries to start
• Visible damage to the cabinet, fan grille or refrigerant lines

Storm damage is often covered by homeowner's insurance — we document everything and can provide the assessment your claim needs. And if the heat is out entirely, call any hour: we answer 24/7, even in the middle of the next ice event.