How to Deal with Ice Buildup on Your Air Conditioner

Paradoxically, the system we use to keep our homes cool doesn’t work well when covered in ice. We’re talking about air conditioners, of course, and what happens when they freeze up. Frozen air conditioning units can happen for various reasons and must be addressed promptly to avoid potential long-term damage.

How Air Conditioners Work

To better understand how air conditioners can ice over, think about how they work. Gases change temperature as they expand or compress. Your air conditioner uses that scientific principle, expanding and contracting refrigerant gases (Freon or R-22) to absorb heat inside your home and push it outside.

This process requires good airflow and the right amount of refrigerant. If you have too much or too little of either, the evaporator or condenser coil can drop below freezing, causing airborne water vapor to freeze. Once the unit is covered in ice, the coil can’t absorb heat and your A/C unit cannot do its job.

Lack of Airflow

An obstruction in the line or failure of the blower-fan motor can cause a lack of airflow. Obstruction is often the result of a clogged air filter that blocks air from reaching the evaporator coil. Another common cause is when leaves and yard debris prevent air from reaching the condenser coil. Blower-fan motor failure, whether indoor or outdoor, can also starve your A/C of the airflow it needs to work properly.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Ice buildup can also result from low refrigerant levels. The original loss of refrigerant may have been caused by pinhole leaks or improper charging, leading to low operating pressures that further lower the refrigerant temperature.

Symptoms of Ice Buildup

To address ice buildup on your air conditioning unit as quickly as possible, be alert for symptoms like these:

• Presence of ice on the indoor or outdoor A/C cabinet
• Inability to effectively cool your indoor space
• Constant short-cycling (stopping before the space is cool, then starting again soon after)
• Puddled water or damp surfaces from melting ice

If you notice symptoms of ice buildup, turn off your A/C unit and let the ice thaw for a few hours.  It’s important that you don’t attempt to remove the ice using a sharp object, as this can damage your evaporator or condenser coil.

Check your air filter to make sure it isn’t caked with dirt, dust, or debris. If clogged, replace it, and make a note to change your filter regularly. (Depending on circumstances, your A/C filter needs to be replaced every one to three months.)

If these actions don’t resolve the issues you are experiencing, call Northern Climate Control to schedule an emergency service call. Even if they do resolve them, call us to schedule a maintenance service so we can help you avoid having it happen again.

Addressing Ice Buildup

Your Northern Climate Control technician will inspect the filters and the blower-fan motor to ensure they are clean and working properly. If there’s a blown relay, wiring problem, or other issue that can prevent the motor from working properly, our technician will provide the needed repair.

Finally, we will check refrigerant levels and the evaporator and condenser coils. Depending on our findings, we may need to add refrigerant to the unit and repair leaks in your system.

Prevention Is Better than a Cure

Schedule a routine maintenance checkup with Northern Climate Control to have your air conditioner inspected and serviced each spring and fall. It’s always better for your comfort (and your wallet) to catch potential problems before they happen and ensure that your system has the right amount of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance visits by Northern Climate Control can help avoid ice buildup in your A/C unit.  We offer top-quality Rheem heating and air conditioning systems, convenient financing, and the area’s best service crews. Our skilled technicians provide fast, affordable inspection, maintenance, and repair throughout the Denver Metro Area. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help!