Your air conditioner is supposed to get your house cool, but it should never have ice on it. If it does, it could be a symptom of a serious problem or could lead to one if the problem isn’t correct immediately. Here is what to do if your A/C unit has ice:
1. Check to see if it’s too cold.
Especially when you’ve been cooking, the inside of your home may feel hot even on a chilly day. Even if the inside of your home is hot, your compressor isn’t designed to work in outside temperatures below 60 degrees. Your A/C may also ice up if you try to run it while the windows are open when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature in an effort to cool your home off faster. In addition, setting your thermostat below 70 degrees may also cause your A/C to freeze. The good news is that giving it a few hours to thaw out usually solves the problem.
2. Check for air flow problems
The warm air flowing into your A/C’s evaporator coils is what prevents the condensation it generates from freezing over. When the air flow is reduced, water can collect on your evaporator coils and the temperature low enough to create a layer of ice that blocks your A/C’s air flow completely. Check for any clogged or blocked air filters as well as any blocked supply or return vents that might be limiting your air flow. Fix the problem and give your AC time to thaw before starting it again.
3. Call an HVAC contractor
If your A/C unit has ice for any other reason, it’s time to call in the pros. The cause may be any number of problems including low refrigerant, a malfunctioning fan motor, or a faulty thermostat. These problems can usually only be fixed by trained professionals.
If your A/C unit has ice or you need other air conditioning help in the Ogden and Layton areas, contact Smedley & Associates. We offer free estimates on all A/C repairs and replacements.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Layton, Utah about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C units and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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