Heating Failure During a Georgetown TX Freeze — Priority Emergency Response
When Georgetown temperatures drop below 28°F — as they did during Winter Storm Uri and subsequent freeze events — HVAC systems that work fine in mild cold can fail under conditions they were never designed for. Heat pumps lose heating capacity, defrost boards ice over, and high-efficiency furnaces freeze their condensate drains. ProAir Georgetown dispatches locally (not from Austin) and prioritizes freeze-event calls for households with elderly residents, infants, or medical conditions.
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Symptoms — What You’re Seeing
Match your symptoms below. Each points to a specific cause. We’ll confirm the exact issue on-site.
| What You’re Experiencing | What It Likely Means |
|---|---|
| Heat pump running constantly but home temperature keeps falling | Heat pump at or below effective range — auxiliary heat circuit not engaging |
| Heat pump outdoor unit completely coated in ice | Defrost board or reversing valve failure — needs professional defrost, not DIY |
| High-efficiency furnace starts then shuts off after 60–90 seconds | Condensate drain line frozen at exterior wall exit — common in hard Georgetown freezes |
| Switched to Emergency Heat but still no warm air from vents | Electric heat strip failure or tripped breaker on the emergency heat circuit |
| No heat at all during the freeze — any system type | Priority emergency dispatch — call immediately regardless of cause |
What’s Causing the Problem
Georgetown-specific causes based on 3,200+ service calls in Wolf Ranch, Sun City, Berry Creek, and Teravista homes.
Heat Pump Efficiency Cliff Below 35°F
Heat pumps extract heat from outdoor air. Below 35°F efficiency drops sharply and the system should switch to auxiliary electric heat. If the auxiliary heat contactor fails, the heat strip burns out, or the breaker trips, the home loses all heating capacity at the exact moment outdoor temps are most extreme. Georgetown averages 10–15 nights below freezing per year.
Defrost Board and Reversing Valve Failure
During a hard freeze, the outdoor coil ices over faster than the defrost cycle can handle. A failed defrost board or a reversing valve that won’t switch to defrost mode causes the outdoor unit to become a solid block of ice, losing all heat transfer. The system runs but produces no heat.
High-Efficiency Furnace Condensate Line Freeze
90%+ efficiency furnaces produce acidic condensate that exits through a PVC line at the exterior wall. During a hard freeze, this exit point freezes, backs up condensate, and trips the safety switch — shutting the furnace off. Identifiable by a clear PVC line that exits the home and has visible ice at the wall penetration.
Furnace Cold-Start and First-Hard-Use Failures
Furnaces that have not been serviced before winter sometimes fail at first sustained use. Dirty flame sensors, oxidized igniters, and gas valves with slow response all cause failures that would not surface in mild weather but appear when the system runs at maximum duty cycle for the first time in the season.
Pipe Freeze Risk While Awaiting Repair
If the home reaches below 45°F, pipes in exterior walls, uninsulated garages, and attic spaces become vulnerable. Let faucets on exterior walls drip slightly. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. Close off unused rooms. If the home drops below 45°F with vulnerable residents, consider temporary relocation while awaiting repair.
From Your Call to Fixed — Fast
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