Should There Be Ice on Your Air Conditioning Unit?
Posted: July 27, 2017 by Andy

Ice and air conditioning may sound logical. Ice is created from cold; air conditioning creates colder temperatures. If your A/C unit is working properly, you should never see ice in the summer. An A/C unit that is being run in the winter might lead to icing. If there are reasons why the unit needs to be run in the winter (i.e. for a restaurant) a professional technician can install a package that can reduce the icing problem. Setting the thermostat too low can also cause the unit to ice up. Most experts agree that you should never have an A/C thermostat set below 70 degrees.

If you see ice on your HVAC system in the summer, you should turn the unit off and begin troubleshooting steps. Some issues may be easily fixed by the homeowner. Other issues may be more complicated or serious and may require the services of a professional HVAC technician.

The first step is to check all air filters and vents for blockage. Blockage of the air filters or vents can cause the system to ice up, but can probably be easily fixed by the homeowner. Also, make sure the thermostat is set high enough for the unit to function properly. If windows are left open while the HVAC system is running, this can also cause the unit to ice up. Check these conditions and if they exist, solve them yourself instead of wasting the expense of a service call.

If your investigation reveals that none of these problems are the issue, it is time to schedule a visit from a professional technician. If the icing is not due to the above problems, it may be a symptom of a more critical issue with your cooling unit. Icing could be caused by problems with the fan or by various types of blockages inside the cooling system. Ice could also be related to a damaged thermostat or a coil that needs repair. Low levels of refrigerant can also be a cause of icing problems.

Remember that you should never see ice on your cooling unit during the summer. If you do see ice, first follow the troubleshooting ideas above, then contact a professional technician, if you are unable to find the source of the problem.