How to Prevent Ice Formation in AC

Your air conditioner should be cold — you could even say ice cold! However, this expression should be taken literally rather than figuratively because ice should not be forming in your AC unit. In fact, if you notice this, it should be a cause for concern. Obviously, your air conditioning unit is working too hard for some reason or another. It’s a mystery that you should solve sooner rather than later to prevent your AC system from breaking down.

If you find ice on your air conditioner, there’s no need to panic. A frozen AC unit shouldn’t be something you have to worry about. That’s why Home Aire Care is providing these tips to help you prevent ice from forming on your air conditioner. Here’s everything you need to know about this problem and how to solve it.

Causes of Ice Forming on your AC Unit

Many factors can cause ice to form on your AC unit, and the best way to prevent this is to get to the root of the problem. Your air conditioning unit is a complex system with many moving parts. So what can cause ice to form on it?

Lack of Airflow Over Evaporator Coil

When there isn’t much airflow making its way into your AC unit, the refrigerant coil can freeze, thus forming ice. The evaporator coils consist of tubes that form an “A-shape,” which lets cold refrigerant flow through it. Then, a blower sucks in the air from your home, brings it over the coil and cools your home. However, when this doesn’t happen, your air conditioner will freeze, causing ice to form on the evaporator coils. When the ice becomes solid, it stops airflow from cooling your home.

Not Enough Refrigerant

A frozen evaporator coil is the most common cause of ice forming on your evaporator coils. When there isn’t enough refrigerant in your air conditioner, the evaporator coil can freeze due to a buildup of humidity and moisture. You might not have enough refrigerant because of refrigerant, which you should have a professional address right away. Like restricted airflow, low refrigerant can take a toll on your cooling system over time.

Preventing Ice From Forming on Air Conditioners

Your air conditioner should not have ice on it, especially in the summer. However, if there is ice on the outside unit, it is a cause for concern. Now that we know why ice can form on your air conditioner, let’s discuss ways to prevent it.

Turn Your Air Conditioner Off

If you see ice forming on your AC system, you should turn it off right away. When you run your air conditioner with ice on it, you won’t benefit from cooled air and risk damaging the compressor and fan. Always allow the ice to melt before using it again or attempting any fixes.

Replace Your Air Filter

When the air filter is clogged, it prevents cool air from making its way into your home and cooling you off. You should check to see if the air filter has any debris or buildup regularly. If you notice this, you should replace it. Part of regular AC maintenance is replacing dirty air filters every one to three months. After all, ice buildup can form when air can get inside.

Check the Drain Line

Your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cool all summer. Like other parts of your HVAC system, it has a drain line to remove condensate, but this can clog or overflow. When water overflows, it can freeze on your evaporator coil.

Open Up Your Vents

There should be nothing blocking your vent. If you avoid placing furniture and other large objects in front of your vents, your air conditioning system will continue functioning regularly without freezing. Additionally, try not to close more than two or three vents at once.

Keep Your Blower Fan Working

Your air conditioner has a blower fan that creates airflow to keep your evaporator coil from freezing over. When your fan is broken or barely working, your system cannot make airflow, leaving it vulnerable to freezing.

Call Your HVAC Technician

Whether you’re dealing with a clogged air filter or refrigerant leak, calling a professional is important. Calling your local HVAC professional will keep cool air coming out of your AC system and stop ice buildup from forming. The team at Home Aire Care is here to help with all your air conditioning needs in Kingston, Trenton and surrounding areas.

Get a New Air Conditioner

Like any other part of your HVAC system, your air conditioning system wears out over time. If your AC unit is constantly freezing over and experiencing other issues, you should consider replacing your air conditioner. Older air conditioners run into problems like a frozen evaporator coil and blowing warm air far more often than their modern counterparts.

Contact a Professional to Fix Your Frozen AC Unit!

When your air conditioner freezes over, you need professional help. Whether a dirty air filter is blocking airflow or your AC’s evaporator coils are frozen over, you need to stop what you are doing and ask for assistance.

What are you waiting for? If you’re in the Kingston or Trenton area and need help with a frozen AC Unit, call the experts at Home Aire Care! Our HVAC technicians are here to help you every step of the way.

Ice on Air Conditioner FAQs

Why does my AC keep getting ice build up?

Your AC system may be suffering from ice buildup for a number of reasons. An air conditioning system often freezes because the evaporator coils are not getting enough airflow. The other reason for ice forming on your AC is when there isn’t enough refrigerant. This can occur due to a refrigerant leak or a combination of humidity and moisture.

How do I stop my AC from icing up?

A solid block of ice forming on your air conditioning unit is never good. To stop from AC from freezing over, you should do the following:

• Monitor refrigerant levels
• Keep your air filter clean
• Inspect the drain line
• Open your vents
• Keep the blower fan in proper condition

If you are having a combination of issues, you should consider replacing your AC unit. When they reach a certain age, AC repairs often cost more than getting a new unit.

Can I fix the frozen AC myself?

There is one way to unfreeze an AC unit at home. Try running the AC system on Fan mode for many hours. You can also try slowly pouring lukewarm or room temperature water over the line. However, you should not use a heat gun or pour boiling water into the unit. If this doesn’t work, call an HVAC technician. Leaving ice on your air conditioner can lead to costly repairs down the line.

Should I turn my AC off if it’s frozen?

Yes! If your air conditioner is frozen, you should turn it off right away. Running a frozen air conditioner while frozen can damage the fan and compressor.

How long does AC need to be off to unfreeze?

The amount of time your AC needs to be off to unfreeze varies. It can take anywhere from an hour to over a day to unfreeze completely.

Can a dirty filter cause AC to freeze?

Yes, a dirty air filter can cause your AC to freeze. Clogged air filters restrict airflow when they are clogged with debris. Because of this, ice can start forming on the evaporator coils and eventually freeze.