When the snow and ice melt, it’s important the water drains away from your foundation. Furnaces and boilers have valves and controls that are vulnerable to water damage. Even if the outside looks dry, corrosion could occur inside leading to malfunctions or even fire. You should also protect exhaust and intake pipes from snow accumulation and melting snow. Otherwise, water could seep in and refreeze, causing a shutdown.
Icicles can be as dangerous as they look! Your exterior components may be situated under a rain gutter. As icicles form on the gutter and then grow larger and larger, they become a lot heavier than you might realize. They become so heavy sometimes that they break off. They can crash down right into your HVAC component and damage the cabinet along with the electronics and sensitive equipment inside. To prevent this damage, you should clear away the icicles hanging above your exterior equipment before they become large. Don’t try to scrape, pry, or chisel ice from your outdoor unit since you could cause severe damage. Contact a professional if you can’t remove snow and ice easily with a broom or shovel. If your unit is underneath an overhang or gutter, check it more often to make sure ice hasn’t built up inside it from exposure to more melting snow.