It is a strange sight: we have summertime temperatures, maybe even over 90 degrees, and there’s ice on your air conditioner. It may seem like this is just a surface problem, so you scrape it off, and several hours later, the ice is back.
Icing is not a normal operational condition for your air conditioner, and is actually a symptom of a bigger problem, which is why removing the ice won’t fix anything when it comes to your air conditioner. There are a few reasons that icing can occur, so if you are seeing ice build-up on your AC, call APC Plumbing & Heating today.
Reasons for Icing on Your Air Conditioner
There are 3 common reasons for ice developing on your air conditioner:
- Outdoor temperatures are too low – your air conditioning system does not operate well below 60 degrees. While this may not be a problem during the day, the nighttime temperatures in your area may dip below 60, causing icing to occur overnight. If you need to run your air conditioner during the day to cool your property, try to shut the air off at night to avoid icing.
- Decreased air flow – when the air flow in your air conditioning system decreases, it directly affects the heat release and cooling process, particularly where the coils are concerned. Without the proper air flow, the parts that need to be cooled don’t get cooled, and the parts that need to get warmer don’t get warmer. The disparate temperatures cause the development of condensation that quickly freezes on the cold parts of the system in the form of ice. Decreased air flow can be caused by several things, including fan issues, bent fins, dirty air filters and blockages in the system, all issues that are best handled by a trained professional.
- Refrigerant issues – the refrigerant in your system helps with the heat release and cooling process in your air conditioning system. The refrigerant stays at a steady level for the life of your air conditioner, but it can run low if your air conditioner develops a leak. Low refrigerant in your system creates an imbalance in the heat release/cooling process that can lead to the development of ice.
Don’t Keep Scraping – Call a Professional AC Technician
Removing the ice from your system only provides temporary relief – once your system cycles a few times, it will begin to develop ice all over again if the underlying problem isn’t addressed. There is a simple solution when it comes to cool outdoor temperatures, but decreased air flow and refrigerant issues with air conditioners are best left to professionals.
If you are seeing ice develop on your air conditioner, call APC Plumbing & Heating today and schedule service for your air conditioner in Denver with one of our technicians.
