What Central Florida Homeowners Should Do When a Freeze Warning Hits

Central Florida doesn’t get many freezes, but that’s exactly what makes them so dangerous. Homeowners who have lived here for years sometimes forget that temperatures can dip below freezing, and the results can be expensive. Burst pipes, damaged heat pump components, and HVAC systems that stop functioning properly are all real possibilities when overnight lows drop unexpectedly.

If a freeze warning has been issued for Lake, Orange, Sumter, or the surrounding counties, here’s what you should do before temperatures fall.

Understand Your Risk

Most of Central Florida’s freeze events are brief, often lasting just a few hours overnight before temps climb again. But even a few hours below 28°F can freeze exposed pipes, damage irrigation systems, and stress your heat pump. Inland areas like Eustis, Mount Dora, and Leesburg tend to run colder than coastal cities because we don’t have the moderating influence of the ocean.

Protect Your Pipes First

The pipes most at risk are those in uninsulated exterior walls, under sinks on outside walls, and in attics or crawl spaces. Run a slow trickle of water from faucets connected to at-risk pipes, wrap exposed outdoor pipes with foam insulation or towels, and open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm interior air circulate.

Don’t forget your irrigation system. Shut it off and, if possible, drain or blow out the lines.

Prepare Your Heat Pump

Heat pumps work differently than traditional furnaces. They extract heat from outdoor air, which gets harder to do as temperatures drop. Most modern heat pumps include electric backup heat strips for exactly this situation.

A few things to do before the freeze:

• Set your thermostat to “heat” mode, not “emergency heat.” Let the system switch to backup strips only when needed.
• Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature rather than cranking it up suddenly. Your system will run more efficiently this way.
• Clear debris around the outdoor unit. Leaves, sticks, and other material can block airflow and cause the unit to ice over.
• Do not cover the outdoor unit with a tarp or blanket. This traps moisture and can damage components.

What to Do if Your Heat Pump Ices Over

It’s normal for a thin layer of frost to form on a heat pump’s outdoor coil during cold weather. The system has a defrost cycle that clears this automatically. However, if the entire outdoor unit becomes encased in ice, that’s a problem. Turn the system off and call a professional. Running a fully iced unit can damage the compressor.

After the Freeze

Once temperatures return to normal, inspect your outdoor HVAC unit for visible damage. Check that no pipes burst during the night and that all your fixtures are working properly. If anything seems off with your system’s performance, schedule a service visit.

Corman & Sons has served Central Florida through many cold snaps since 1995. Call us if you need a post-freeze inspection or your heat pump isn’t performing the way it should.