Why is there ice on my air conditioner? It’s a question that people ask often. There are reasons why you see an issue with your cooling system. The sooner you act and seek professional guidance, the better. You don’t want to damage your air conditioner to the point where you can’t have it repaired easily.
If the temperature has dropped and your air conditioner is dumping ice on the ground, it’s because the machine cannot get rid of enough heat. An AC system has multiple ways to get rid of excess heat. It causes a big mess involving ice when it can’t do that. That’s why you should never take a sight like ice on your AC lightly.
The Reason Why You’re Seeing Ice Build-Up When Running Your AC
Ice on an air conditioner in the middle of summer is hard to miss. If you see it accumulating on your unit, its cause can be one of two things. Each culprit is detailed below so you gain a better understanding of what the root cause of the issue could be that day. Providing as much detail as possible to the company you request service from is imperative to getting the repair done quickly and correctly.
Here are some of the reasons why there is ice on your air conditioner:
- Reduced Airflow Over the Evaporator Coil. A blockage keeps the refrigerant from flowing correctly. That means that all the cooled air does make it to the evaporator coil. Instead, it causes ice to form, indicating that you need to have repair work done right away. Hiring a professional to take a look at the cooling system in your home is essential. It’s the only way to rule out a problem with the evaporator coil.
- Low Refrigerant. The evaporator coil is likely frozen. When there isn’t enough refrigerant, it causes the part to freeze. It’s one of the many reasons why it’s advisable to have your air conditioner inspected and serviced each year before turning it on. This issue is very common because many people don’t realize how vital refrigerant is for the cooling process. When the supply in the AC depletes, it becomes an issue.
In the next section of the guide, we’ll go over ways you can overcome these challenges. Doing your part to examine the AC unit for signs of ice properly is imperative. It allows you to get help before the issue grows in size and cost. You’ll do what you can to overcome the challenges you’re facing and have a professional step in to take care of the rest of the problems, so they’re no longer troubling you.
How You Can Keep Ice from Building Up on Your Air Conditioner
Being a homeowner means that you must do your part to keep the various systems your home is dependent on running at all times. If you want your air conditioner to work optimally, there are things you can do to prevent ice from forming. Making it a point to do all that you can to prevent future problems ensures that your AC system works the way you want it to when you turn it on for the first time.
You can do things to keep ice from building up on your AC. Here are a few of the easier tasks to add to your household care routine:
- Make sure the air filter gets changed often. A dirty filter prevents air from flowing through it freely. It also allows pollutants to enter your home when they should be getting trapped by the filter. When you hire a professional to service and repair your air conditioner, ask them for recommendations on how often you should have the air filter changed. It may be more frequently than you imagined due to you having pets or someone with allergies living in the home. The best way to know something you don’t know is to ask!
- Open the supply and return grills if they’re closed. It helps air from being blocked and never reach the rooms in your home. It takes just a few minutes to do this and can keep ice from forming on your air conditioner regularly. Including the task in your daily or weekly cleaning routine ensures that you’re never restricting the airflow to the point that the evaporator coil freezes.
- Have the evaporator coil cleaned by a professional. A dirty coil also causes your air conditioner to perform poorly. It’s well worth the effort to hire an expert who deals with heating and cooling issues. They know the right way to clean the coil without damaging it. The point is to prevent future repairs from costing you a lot of money. It’s something that a service tech can do for you quickly. They have the knowledge and tools to locate the coil and clean it properly so that it works efficiently.
- Have the blower looked at to make sure it’s still operational. Again, it’s all about having a professional look at the air conditioner’s part to ensure they’re working correctly. If they are, you’ll know because you won’t need to have them repaired or replaced. If the blower is faulty, you’ll have an expense on your hands to deal with that day.
- Allow the frozen AC to defrost entirely after unplugging it. Disconnect the power and let the AC thaw completely. Once it has, you can have a service tech come out to see what the issue is currently. They may find it very difficult to determine which part is causing the issue without fully examining the cooling system. It’s important to keep yourself from being electrocuted by the thawing AC. Cutting the power off to it is imperative.
- Remove obstructions from the supply and return vents. It won’t take you any time at all to do this, and it can improve your home’s energy efficiency quickly. You need to remove curtains from vents and move furniture up so that it doesn’t block the vents. A closed vent is a waste of refrigerant because the cooled air never makes its way into the room.
Ice on your air conditioner indicates there is a problem that needs your immediate attention. If you haven’t had a chance to deal with it by hiring a professional, now is the time to do so. You don’t want to be in a position where your AC quits working, and you need to replace it with a new model. By being diligent in your approach to handling ice on an air conditioner, you avoid a wide range of problems that cost you a small fortune.
The right company provides you with peace of mind. They restore comfort to your home by ensuring your air conditioner works the best that it can. The next section of this guide helps you determine who is the most qualified to help you with your request. You’ll then be able to get the help you need whenever you need it.
How to Find the Perfect Company to Help You with Your AC Issues
You can locate a good company to work with through several quick and easy methods. The first is to search the web for companies in the area that specialize in frozen ACs. You’ll likely find several service providers to whom you can reach out for more information. Speaking to a company representative makes it much easier for you to get your problem resolved quickly and successfully.
Another option is to ask around to see if anyone knows of a good company to give your business to today. You’ll likely find someone to assist you in locating a good HVAC company in the area. Your family and friends know a lot about the city and the service providers that work in it. Tap into their knowledge and do your search for a good company to hire fast and easily.
Being deliberate in your approach to finding the right service provider is essential. It means that you’ll definitely be satisfied with who you hired to do the job. You’ll have a working air conditioner in no time and have access to a company that you know you’ll be able to work with again in the future. It makes your life as a homeowner much easier.
Get the Help That You Deserve with Your Air Conditioning Issue Today
Many things can cause ice on your air conditioner. That’s why you should contact a professional with your request for an inspection right away. Delaware Heating and Air is available to get to the root of your issue. That way, you won’t have ice building up on your AC and can use it as often as you’d like to without worry.
We don’t expect you to be an expert on your cooling system. That’s our job! However, you should be able to recognize an issue with your AC unit freezing. Let us know what you’ve discovered so we can remedy the issue with the greatest speed and proficiency.
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