York mini split error code P8
Inverter heat sink (radiator) overheat protection.
- TypeProtection
- SystemCompressor / inverter
- Can I fix it?Homeowner checks, then maybe a tech
What P8 means on a York
The inverter's heat sink got too hot and the compressor stopped.
On this platform, P8 is a protection: the system stopped or throttled itself to prevent damage; many clear on their own once conditions return to normal.
Common causes
- A blocked outdoor coil or failed fan.
- Blocked clearance around the outdoor unit.
- A failed heat-sink fan or dried thermal paste on older units.
How to fix it yourself
Work through the checks below first; they resolve most cases. If they do not, the repair itself may need a technician.
- Look at the outdoor unit: clear leaves, cottonwood fluff, snow or ice from the coil and make sure the fan can spin freely and nothing is stacked against the cabinet.
- Check clearance around the outdoor unit.
- Reset the system: switch the breaker (or the outdoor disconnect) off, wait a full five minutes so the boards fully discharge, then switch it back on and restart from the remote.
Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.
When to call a technician
Persistent P8 with a clean coil needs a technician.
Which York units show P8
This page applies to York M-Series inverter-driven (DHM / DHP) and York multi-zone (DHM…CMB) units. York's own documentation lists P8 as "Inverter heat sink (radiator) overheat protection", the same definition used across the Gree platform it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.
Where York shows this code
The code shows on the indoor unit's display in place of the temperature. If the display is off, press the Light button on the remote. Some models also count out the code as indicator blinks. E codes are system protections and faults, F codes are mostly sensor faults, H codes are outdoor and compressor protections, U codes are motor and valve faults, and P codes are power-supply faults.
Other York codes
Same part of the system as P8:
P8 on other brands
The same characters do not always mean the same thing. Check the brand on your unit.
- Blueridge P8 Inverter heat sink (radiator) overheat protection
- Zone Air P8 Outdoor over- or under-temperature protection
- Mitsubishi Electric P8 Pipe temperature abnormal (refrigerant circuit)
- Trane P8 Outdoor over- or under-temperature protection / Pipe temperature abnormal (refrigerant circuit)
Questions people ask
Can I reset a York P8 code myself?
Yes. Turn the system off at the breaker for five minutes, then restart it. If P8 comes back, the fault is real and needs the checks above.
Is it safe to keep running a York showing P8?
Not repeatedly. A protection code means the unit stopped itself to prevent damage, and resetting it over and over can turn a cheap repair into a compressor failure. Reset once, check the basics, and stop if it returns.
Do I need a technician for York P8?
Work through the checks below first; they resolve most cases. If they do not, the repair itself may need a technician. Persistent P8 with a clean coil needs a technician.
Sources
- York M-Series Inverter-Driven Air Conditioning Units Service Manual (DHM18-42CMB21S), Troubleshooting error code tables
Updated September 2026. Codes and definitions vary by model year. If your manual disagrees with this page, your manual wins. Send a correction.