In ohio 32 degs outside on heat pump if its low on freon will it affect heat temp?

Heat pumps go into defrost mode essentially when it needs to. The frequency depends on the weather, humidity, airflow and overall outside conditions. This means it could go into defrost mode multiple times per day. However, it should not be excessive. There are two main reasons for your system defrosting excessively: a lack of airflow and low Freon levels.

Defrost problems can often be attributed to an airflow problem. Essentially the compressor and the air around the compressor are not getting hot enough to melt the ice. Therefore it goes into defrost mode. When it goes into defrost mode the system shuts off and heats the compressor in order to melt the ice. Then once the compressor is heated and free from ice, it starts the system back up. One way to fix airflow is to remove all obstructions around the unit: blankets, covers, etc. The outdoor unit has to be able to “breathe.”

Low Freon levels are another main factor to excessive defrosting. Each system has a capacity of Freon. If the system is not at full capacity it does not have the capability to keep the system and its surrounding atmosphere fully heated. If the Freon levels are at capacity and airflow is sufficient, you should not have this problem.

-Miller's One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning

A heat load is required to aquire accurte readings. A false heat load can be applied by turning the heater up and warming the house. Freon bottles are ften submerged in a bucket full of hot water in order to build the pressure necissary to charge. Freezing coils is never normal and a low charge is usually the culprit, sometimes ite airflow. A simple " top-off" is never a permanent fix. If its low on freon, then there is a leak somewhere and it needs to be adressed. On rare occasions, there can be blockages in the refrigerant lines that cause the same thing. Either way, be prepared to supply the repair man with hot water for his refrigerant bottles.

As another poster said, low refrigerant will most definitely effect the way your heat pump heats. With it being 32 outside they are not very efficient though, and will go into defrost quite frequently. One way to check (as a homeowner) is to check the air blowing out of the outside unit. It should be VERY cold in heat mode, especially with it close to freezing outside. The larger copper line (it should be the insulated one) should also be VERY hot (150+ degrees). Note: A heat pump is just an A/C that runs in reverse, so instead of blowing cold air inside, and hot outside, it blows cold air out, and hot in. The water you normally see running out of your drain line in the summer is now forming on your outside unit, and water freezes at 32.

Low refrigerant charge will absolutely affect the performance. It is not recommended to charge in heating mode but it is possible to get you through until warmer weather arrives and the leak is repaired.