Oklahoma ice storms don’t give much warning. When a February blue norther drops temperatures 30 degrees in two hours and ice coats the power lines, the difference between a warm place and a crisis is whether your HVAC system was ready. Here’s what to do before, during, and after a freeze event.
Before the Storm, 24-48 Hours Out
- Change the air filtera clogged filter causes the furnace to overheat and lock out. Don’t head into a freeze with a dirty filter.
- Test the furnace nowset the thermostat to heat, 5 degrees above room temp, and verify it fires. Far better to find a problem Tuesday than 2am Thursday.
- Clear the flue pipe outlethigh-efficiency furnaces exhaust through PVC pipes near the ground. Inspect that leaves and debris aren’t blocking them. Ice can block these pipes during the storm, review periodically.
- Note your circuit breaker locations, the furnace, air handler, and heat pump each have dedicated breakers. Know where they are.
- Locate the condensate drainhigh-efficiency furnaces produce condensate that drains outside. This drain can freeze. Know where it exits the house.
- Stock a backup heat sourcea propane heater rated for indoor use (with CO detector) buys you time if the power goes out or the furnace fails.
- Don’t cover the outdoor AC unitit’s designed for this weather. Covering it causes more problems than it prevents.
During the Storm, Hold the Heat On
- Maintain thermostat at 68°F or above, don’t try to save energy during a hard freeze. The cost of re-warming a 45°F house is much higher than maintaining 68°.
- Open cabinet doors under sinksespecially on exterior walls. Warm air reaching those pipes prevents freezing.
- Let exterior faucets dripmoving water resists freezing. A slow drip on the faucet farthest from the water entry is standard Oklahoma freeze protocol.
- Go over the condensate drain outlet periodicallyif it ices over, the furnace will lock out on a safety switch. Pour warm water on a frozen outlet to clear it.
- If the heat pump is blowing cool airinspect if it’s in defrost mode (normal, lasts 5-15 minutes). If it runs in defrost for longer, call for call.
⚠ Winter Uri lesson (February 2021): Central Oklahoma saw temperatures below 0°F for multiple days. Homes with gas furnaces and geothermal systems fared far better than those relying solely on electric heat pumps. If your home is all-electric with a standard heat pump, a dual-fuel upgrade before next winter is worth serious consideration.
If Your Heat Goes Out During a Freeze
Review the thermostatset to HEAT, fan AUTO, temperature set above current room temp. Replace batteries if display is dim.
Go over the circuit breakera tripped breaker is the most common “no heat” call. Reset it once. If it trips again, call a technician, don’t hold resetting.
Replace the air filtera completely clogged filter trips the high-limit switch. Swap in a fresh filter and give the furnace 30 minutes to cool down before restarting.
Inspect the flue exhaust pipego outside and inspect that the PVC exhaust pipe (usually near the foundation) isn’t blocked with ice. Clear it with warm water.
Also Serving
Kingfisher
Enid
Yukon
Mustang
Edmond
Guthrie
El Reno
Weatherford
Call Hartzell’s405-375-4822. I prioritize emergency HVAC fix calls during freeze events. My techs are stocked with the most common furnace parts, ignitors, flame sensors, capacitors, for same-trip repairs.
After the Storm, Equipment Check
- Inspect the outdoor AC/heat pump rig for ice damage (bent fins, cracked housing)
- Check that the condensate drain has thawed and is flowing freely
- Test the AC when temperatures return to normal, verify it cools before summer
- If the setup ran continuously for days without cycling off, have the heat exchanger checked, extended high-temp operation accelerates cracking
Need visit? See my Emergency HVAC page for pricing, job area, and same-day availability across central Oklahoma. Call 405-375-4822.
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Related Services from Hartzell’s Heat & Air
- Emergency HVAC Patchafter-hours emergency service when ice storms hit
- Heating Fix, Kingfisherfast furnace and heat pump diagnosis year-round
- HVAC Maintenancepre-season tune-ups that catch issues before the chilly arrives
Written by Dave HartzellOwner, Hartzell’s Heat & Air. Master HVAC License #00115936. Serving central Oklahoma for 15+ years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prep my HVAC for an Oklahoma ice storm?
Three steps: change your filter so airflow is wide open, set the thermostat to 68 degrees and leave it (don’t bump it up and down), and clear ice off the outdoor unit gently (no hammer, no sharp tools). If you lose power, shut the system off at the thermostat to protect against surge damage on restore.
What should I do if my heat goes out in an Oklahoma ice storm?
Call me first at 405-375-4822, I run emergency calls during storms. While waiting: close blinds and curtains, open cabinet doors under sinks (protects pipes), set faucets to a slow drip, and use space heaters in one room only (never overnight unattended).
Should I turn off my heat pump in an ice storm?
No, leave it running. Heat pumps have automatic defrost cycles every 30 to 90 minutes that melt frost off the outdoor coil. Turning the system off lets ice build up worse and can shatter the fan blade when you restart. Trust the defrost cycle.
Can I pour hot water on my iced-over outdoor unit?
Only lukewarm water (not boiling). Pouring boiling water on cold copper coils can crack the brazed joints and create a refrigerant leak. A gentle rinse with the garden hose on the warm setting works. Or just let the defrost cycle handle it, which it will.
How do I keep pipes from freezing during an Oklahoma ice storm?
Set faucets on a pencil-lead drip (hot and cold), open cabinet doors under sinks against exterior walls, keep the thermostat at 68 minimum even if you leave town, and disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots. Pipes burst when water expands as it freezes, dripping prevents pressure buildup.