In a word, no.
While it may seem like ice should be a normal part of the cooling process, it simply is not. If you’ve discovered ice on the indoor unit of your air conditioner, then it’s time to figure out why. The good news is, this isn’t necessarily a major repair in all cases.
But it is one you should leave to the pros—trying to scrape off or thaw ice on your own could further damage the system, and it doesn’t resolve the problem that caused the ice to begin with.
You Might Have Airflow Problems
When your air conditioner doesn’t have enough air moving through it, the coil can freeze over, which can eventually cause your entire air conditioner to cease working, too.
Fortunately, this problem often has a very simple solution—changing or cleaning the air filter. When that air filter gets too dirty, dirt and debris starts forming on the evaporator coil. This is an entirely preventable problem, though, so do be sure to change your HVAC air filter every 1-3 months!
If you checked the air filter and that’s not the culprit, then you could be looking at an air duct problem. Blocked ductwork causes airflow problems, and, in serious cases, could require repairs or even replacement. To find out what your ductwork service needs are, contact our pros!
You Could Have a Refrigerant Leak
There’s a fairly common misconception that refrigerant is something that “runs out” like gasoline from a car. But, refrigerant is not a fuel. It is a chemical liquid/gas mixture that makes the entire cooling process possible. When your system loses refrigerant, it means you have a leak, and a refrigerant leak means the coils can’t absorb heat as they’re meant to.
As a result, those coils can freeze over with ice. Then, ironically, the ice forms an insulating barrier and the coils are again, unable to absorb heat. A refrigerant leak is nothing to take lightly. If you notice a loss of cooling power or hear a hissing noise coming from your system, the best thing you can do is call in our pros to inspect, so we can either rule out this problem or accurately locate and repair your leak.
You Could Have a Failing Blower Motor
Another reason your air conditioner might experience ice development is if it has a defective blower motor. When the blower motor fails, the outdoor condenser unit of your air conditioner will still work, but the indoor part of the AC system won’t turn on. You may have this happen without even noticing ice development, in which case it is time to call a pro!
“How Can I Prevent Ice Development?”
By scheduling professional air conditioning maintenance. While there is one task you can do on your own—changing the air filter—when you schedule routine, annual air conditioning maintenance, you can count on our pros thoroughly inspecting, adjusting, and cleaning your air conditioner.
We also check for any signs of small repair needs before they grow into something much bigger and much costlier.
For quality air conditioning repair in Johns Creek, GA, contact DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. Fixed, At the Speed of Life!
