Even during a scorching Kansas summer, when temperatures outside soar, ice can build up on or inside your air conditioner. This can lead to big problems, so it’s important to know why ice can form on an AC unit and how to prevent your air conditioner from freezing up. First things first: If you have ice on your air conditioner, shut the unit off now to allow it to defrost while you read on to determine whether you need to call a professional for service. If your air conditioner freezes up, it’s either because something is preventing heat from transferring from your house to the Freon, or something is causing the evaporator coils to get too cold. Air conditioners work by transferring heat through a refrigerant called Freon. The evaporator coil expands the Freon, which causes the coil to cool quickly. Air is blown over the cold coils and distributed through your home’s duct work to cool the air in your house. The refrigerant inside the coils absorb the heat from the air, then moves outside your home to the compressor.

The compressor causes the Freon to release the heat from your home into the outside air, and they cycle starts again.ac power supply 3 phase Cause: Low refrigerant levelIf your refrigerant is low, you have a leak. how much does a commercial ac unit weighThis causes the Freon to expand too much in the air conditioner’s evaporator coil, lowering the temperature below freezing and causing ice to form.ac unit under deckSolution: Have a qualified HVAC technician repair the leak and recharge the coolant.Prevention: Have your air conditioner inspected and serviced every spring to catch potential problems and make sure it has the right amount of Freon. Cause: Dirty evaporator coilA dirty evaporator coil can cause ice to form on your air conditioner because it restricts airflow through the unit.

A dirty coil can also make the AC unit use more electricity while producing less cool air, and cause significant damage to the compressor. Solution: To prevent your cooling system from breaking down completely, shut the unit off until the coil is cleaned or replaced by a professional. Prevention: Clean the evaporator coil regularly. Cause: Restricted Airflow through the AC unitIn order to function properly, air conditioners rely on air flowing through the system. Too little airflow reduces the temperature, causing the AC unit to freeze up. Airflow can be restricted by dirty air filters, closed vents, or by clogs or leaks in the ductwork.Solution: Depending on what’s restricting the airflow, you may need to change your air filter, clean your ductwork or repair your air ducts.Prevention: Change the air filter once a month during heavy-use times like summer, and consider having your ductwork sealed. Cause: Outside temperature is too coldAir conditioners weren’t designed to be used when the outdoor temperature is below 62 degrees Farenheit.

This isn’t usually an issue here in Wichita, except during the late spring and early fall, when temperatures can get into the 70s and 80s during the day but drop down into the 50s overnight.Solution: Turn off the AC unit to allow it to thaw.Prevention: Turn off the air conditioner at night when the temperature is predicted to be in the low 60s or lower. Cause: Mechanical failureBroken valves, a damaged blower fan or fan motor, kinked refrigerant lines, or a blocked drain can all cause your central cooling system to freeze up. Solution: Have a licensed HVAC professional inspect and repair the unit.Prevention: Regular maintenance of your heating and cooling systems, generally in spring and fall, will ensure all parts are working properly. Ice inside your AC unit can’t be seen as easily, but it can cause serious damage so it requires service immediately. In the humid climate here in the Midwest, it’s common for air conditioners to drip water. But, if a lot of water is dripping inside the unit, that’s a sign of trouble.

A full drip pan can indicate melted ice inside the AC system. Another red flag is the sound of ice chunks falling, like when your refrigerator defrosts. If you notice either of these signs, shut off the unit and call an air conditioning technician right away. For all these problems, prevention really is the best cure. Having your air conditioner inspected and tuned up each year will keep the system ice-free and running efficiently for years to come. Please log in using your personal profile: Create personal profile » 7 Tips to Get More from Mini-Split Heat Pumps in Colder ClimatesWith this ductless ac troubleshooting guide, you can find problems with your system, fix it yourself, and save a lot of money.We will guide you through the process of identifying the problem and repairing your air conditioner or heat pump.The normal service charge would cost you over $100 but, with this guide, you can save that money. **NOTE** Only you can assess your ability to perform these actions.

This is a guide and cannot give the details/procedures for every possible situation. If your unit is not operating, you should begin your ductless ac troubleshooting by checking the display on the fan coil for a fault code. In most units, the display will show an E with a number. With that number you can narrow down the problem by referring to the user manual/installation instructions.Next, you should check the room temperature setting. On most units this is done with the remote control. Ensure that the unit is in the proper mode and the setpoint is correct. You should also make sure the unit has been off for at least three minutes. If the display on the air handler is blank, check the fuse or breaker for the unit. In the case of a tripped breaker, you should check the wiring connections in the outside unit. Some units also have a fuse on the control board in the air handler. Continue your ductless ac troubleshooting by checking the air filter. It should be washed at least every month.

Also check to see if there is any ice buildup on the coil. If there is ice build up, check to make sure the fan is working. Make sure the blower wheel is free to move. If it is free and the fan is not working then the problem is probably the motor or the control board. If the fan is working, allow the ice to melt and check the refrigerant level in the unit. If there is no ice and the fan is working, you should go to the outdoor unit. If the fan on the outside unit is not running, you should check the dual run capacitor. Our capacitor testing guide will help you with that. If the capacitor can is bulging, it is a good indication that it is bad. If the capacitor is good the condenser fan motor may be bad. You can use our fan replacement guide to help you.If the fan is running, feel the compressor to see if it is running. If it is hot to the touch and not running, shut off the power and cool the compressor by pouring water over it. Then, check the outdoor coil and make sure it is clean.

You should also check the dual run capacitor.After the unit is running, you should check the refrigerant level.If, after the compressor is cooled down, the unit makes a loud humming noise when it is trying to start, the compressor rotor may be stuck. You can use a hard start capacitor to try to get it to run. If the compressor still does not start, it may need to be replaced. You can use our compressor testing guide to check to be sure.If the fan and compressor are running but the cooling or heating is insufficient, start by cleaning the unit. Ensure the fan coil, filter, and condenser coil are clean. Then you can check the refrigerant level and adjust per the operating instructions.**NOTE** IN SOME COUNTRIES, YOU MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO HANDLE REFRIGERANT. If the unit's refrigerant charge is adequate, the unit may be improperly sized. The only way to tell if the unit is the proper size is through a process called a load calculation. If your unit is dripping water, you should begin your ductless ac troubleshooting by checking the drain hose to see if it is clogged.