3 on a Carrier heat pump: Frozen plates exchanger (plate heat exchanger froze during cooling); restart only by power OFF-ON after qualified check
Short answer
On a Carrier heat pump, 3 means: Frozen plates exchanger (plate heat exchanger froze during cooling); restart only by power OFF-ON after qualified check. The heat pump stops until the fault clears or is reset. An engineer is needed to fix the cause. The wording differs by model range — each is shown below.
Reviewed 23 September 2026 · 2 sources
What it means
On the AquaSnap / AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A inverter monobloc, 2010-2018 generations)
The manual says: Frozen plates exchanger (plate heat exchanger froze during cooling); restart only by power OFF-ON after qualified check.
Likely causes:
- Low water flow/volume or low set-point in cooling.
On the AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A monobloc)
The manual says: Enter water Temperature Sensor (EWT).
Likely causes:
- Check the entering water temperature sensor (EWT).
- check the GMC board.
Is it safe?
On the AquaSnap / AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A inverter monobloc, 2010-2018 generations)
Switch the heat pump off at its isolator and call an engineer.
| Does the heat pump stop? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Severity | Fault — needs a manual reset once the cause is fixed |
| Engineer needed? | Yes |
The heat pump stops until the fault clears or is reset.
Resetting itself: Code 3 (frozen plate exchanger): only restart is power OFF-ON after qualified service check (manual p26).
On the AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A monobloc)
| Does the heat pump stop? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Severity | Fault — clears by itself when the condition goes |
| Engineer needed? | Yes |
The heat pump stops until the fault clears or is reset.
What you can check
On the AquaSnap / AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A inverter monobloc, 2010-2018 generations)
- Note the code/LED pattern and the model from the rating plate, then contact a heat pump/refrigeration engineer.
- Check the heat pump's breaker/isolator at the consumer unit is on.
- Check the heating system pressure gauge reads in the normal range stated by the installer (usually about 1-1.5 bar cold) and that the filling loop is closed.
On the AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A monobloc)
- Read and note the exact code shown on the controller display.
- Check the heat pump's breaker/isolator at the consumer unit is on.
- Restart once via the controller (OFF then ON) as the manual allows; if the code returns, call an engineer.
What the engineer will check
On the AquaSnap / AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A inverter monobloc, 2010-2018 generations)
- Check pump, flow switch, strainer, valves, water volume and antifreeze setting.
Who to ask for: refrigeration / heat pump engineer.
Certification: Electrical competence for work inside the unit.
On the AquaSnap Plus 30AWH (R410A monobloc)
- Check the entering water temperature sensor (EWT).
- check the GMC board.
What you might notice
Sources
- Carrier 30AW AquaSnap Plus Reversible Inverter - Installation, Operation and Maintenance Instructions (air/water cycle heat pump), Order No. L010130H42 01.2017 (supersedes 12.2015) ↗ · L010130H42 01.2017 · page 26 · Reviewed 23 September 2026
- Carrier 30AWH AquaSnap Plus Service Manual, Engineering Department of Italy, November 2010 (SM_30AW) ↗ · November 2010 · page 74 · Reviewed 23 September 2026
A code explains what the controller detected, not a confirmed root cause.
Reviewed: 23 September 2026