Yes, we know your air conditioner is supposed to be cold. How else would it cool your home, right? But we also promise you that it is not supposed to develop a layer of ice. If you do see ice on your AC—probably on the evaporator coils—it’s a sign that something is wrong.
What should you do about ice on your air conditioner? What’s causing it? Does it require professional repair? We’ll talk you through how to figure that out.
Step 1: Let It Thaw
Before you (or a technician) can actually tell what’s wrong or do anything about it, you’ll need to get rid of that ice. Don’t try to chip it off. You could do a lot of damage. Simply turn off the air conditioner and let the ice melt away. You may want to check your condensate pan now and then to make sure the extra water doesn’t cause it to overflow. Depending on how much ice your AC has accumulated, it should be gone in 12-24 hours.
Step 2: Check the Filter
The ultimate reason behind any AC ice is that the refrigerant wasn’t absorbing as much heat as it should have been. This leaves the evaporator coils extra-cold, so any moisture that condenses on them (which is a normal part of the AC process) will get cold enough to freeze. So why wasn’t the refrigerant able to absorb heat properly?
It might be that something was on the coils, getting in between them and the warm air, acting like a layer of insulation. Our technicians will check to see if the coils need to be cleaned. This is something that you shouldn’t attempt on your own.
It might be that there just wasn’t enough warm air flowing through the system. This can also happen if the air filter is too heavily clogged with dust. It should be cleaned or replaced every month, perhaps more if you have pets who shed a lot. Make sure you’ve got a nice clean air filter.
Step 3: Try, Try Again
Now that a clean filter is in place, you can turn the air conditioner back on and let it run normally. If your problem has disappeared, wonderful! Just make sure you’re diligent about changing the air filter in the future. If ice starts to build up again, there’s something else wrong.
Step 4: Professional Assistance
A qualified HVAC technician can get to the bottom of your icy AC issue. It could still be a lack of warm air flowing through, perhaps because the motor isn’t working as well as it should. Or it could be that there’s a refrigerant leak, so the evaporator coils just don’t contain enough refrigerant to soak up the necessary heat. Whatever the true root of the problem is, your technician can sort it out.
Keep in mind that once ice starts to develop, it will worsen the very problem that caused the ice to begin with. The ice itself will act as insulation and prevent the coils from absorbing heat! So don’t delay. Get central air repair in East Lansing, MI.
Contact A-1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling for AC services in Lansing, MI. Comfort and Character You Can Depend On.