Can ice and snow damage my outdoor unit? While you should always try and keep snow, ice and leaves away from your outdoor unit, it is especially important if you have a heat pump. Anything on the top or sides of a heat pump can restrict air flow and possibly damage the unit.  Look at the outdoor heat pump after bad weather for signs of ice or snow. If the heat pump is covered in ice or snow, it should be removed for it to work properly. Turn the thermostat to Emergency heat or off and carefully attempt to remove the snow and ice. You can pour cold or warm water over the unit to melt the snow and ice. Do not use any sharp objects to pick or knock the ice off of the heat pump. This could cause severe damage to the unit. Once the unit is clear of snow and ice, turn the thermostat back to normal heating, if the unit ices up again, call for service.