It is one hot summer in Minneapolis, which is why we need our air conditioners now more than ever. Air conditioners can be finicky sometimes, though. They can start leaking, making noises, or start forming ice where there shouldn’t be ice. If you hear falling ice chunks in your air conditioner, or there is a lot more water than usual in the drip pan, chances are that ice is forming in your air conditioner. This can lead to serious problems in the future if not taken care of right away. There are three main causes for ice forming on your air conditioner.
Clogged air filter
A clogged air filter contributes to any number of issues with your air conditioner, including forming ice. The constricted flow of the warm air from outside can drop the temperature inside your indoor A/C unit to below freezing and create ice. Checking your air filter every month and replacing it every three months can prevent this from happening, but we all forget sometimes. If ice is forming, be sure to check your air filter and change it if it is clogged.
Dirty condenser coils
The condenser coils in your air conditioner move the refrigerant in your air conditioner to cool down the warm air pulled in from inside your home. When the coils are dirty, the cool air from the refrigerant can’t get to the warm air outside the coils. Cold air stays inside of the coils and can go below freezing, causing ice to form. Cleaning the condenser coils yourself is not something we recommend. There is a chance that something will get bumped out of place, or there could be a larger issue uncovered while cleaning. Schedule an appointment with your HVAC company to make sure your air conditioner is working properly.
Low refrigerant
Refrigerant is what cools down the warm air in your home before it is released through your vents. When it is low, there is a high chance that there is a leak somewhere in the coils. Leaks lead to other places in your air conditioner becoming too cold or less movement of your refrigerant, making the coils too cold. Either way, a leak is not an easy fix and should be checked out by your HVAC technician right away. Leaks are usually spotted and prevented during your yearly air conditioner tune-up. Be sure to get your air conditioner tuned up before using it each summer.
Other causes
There are other things that can cause ice to form in your air conditioner. If the temperature outside is too cold to cool down anymore, the inside unit will dip below freezing. Blocked air vents can also restrict air flow, trapping the cooled air with the refrigerant. In rare cases, there could be a mechanical issue contributing to freezing temperatures in your air conditioner. If you are unsure about what is causing your air conditioner to freeze, call your HVAC technicians for assistance.
No matter the cause of your air conditioner freezing, turn off your air conditioner if ice starts to form. Leaving it on will create more ice and more issues that will have to be fixed. If you need your air conditioner checked, call our technicians at Twin City Heating, Air and Electric. We also have our tune-up plan that can prevent issues from happening while you are using your air conditioner or furnace. Check them out to learn more.
