{"id":2011,"date":"2024-07-08T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/?p=2011"},"modified":"2026-06-17T11:17:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:17:58","slug":"iced-up-ac-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/iced-up-ac-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Iced-Up AC? Here\u2019s Why"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"air-conditioner-covered-with-ice\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Many issues your air conditioner might encounter can cause it to make strange noises. Occasionally, an AC problem<\/a> will cause strange smells. Much of the time, a problem with your air conditioner will make it less effective, leaving your home either not cool enough overall or uneven in temperature, with some cool spots and some hot ones. But another thing a struggling air conditioner can create is ice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice might not seem like a bad thing. After all, your air conditioner is supposed to make things cold, right? Well, if you\u2019ve got ice building up on your AC evaporator coil, it\u2019s not good. In fact, it will only get worse. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Evaporator Coil\u2019s Job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The coils of your air conditioner contain refrigerant, and while that refrigerant is flowing through the evaporator coils of the indoor unit, it is evaporating\u2014turning from a super-cold liquid to a heated gas as it absorbs heat from the air of your home. Then, in the condenser coils of the outdoor unit, the heat dissipates, and the refrigerant condenses to a liquid again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to do the job properly, the evaporator coils need heat to soak up, and they need to be able to absorb that heat sufficiently. Otherwise, the refrigerant will stay too cold. The coils will be so cold that when condensation forms on them, it will freeze and become a layer of ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ice Begins to Form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That first layer of ice means there\u2019s already something wrong, and air conditioning systems often show warning signs when maintenance is needed. It could be something simple, even something you can remedy yourself. It might be that the evaporator coil was dirty, with a layer of dust and pet hair insulating it so that it wasn\u2019t able to absorb enough heat. It might be that the AC air filter was clogged, so there wasn’t enough warm air being moved past the coil to give it the heat to soak up, and air filters should be replaced if they are clogged with dust. Changing air filters regularly can prevent repairs. Strange noises are another warning sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it might be that you need professional assistance. Another reason the warm air wouldn\u2019t pass by the evaporator coil is if the blower fan motor, or the fan which it powers, is broken. Or, it could be that there isn\u2019t enough refrigerant in the system to soak up the necessary heat. Where did that refrigerant go? It doesn\u2019t get used up in the cooling process, so there must be a leak, and pooling water or refrigerant leaks can indicate moisture issues in the system. High humidity indoors can also point to cooling systems trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ice Keeps Building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once this process begins, the ice itself acts as a layer of insulation and further prevents heat absorption. That means the problem gets worse, and the ice layers on more thickly! Your AC isn\u2019t able to keep your home cool, the system keeps running more often, your electric bill rises, and your compressor suffers terrible wear. Prompt maintenance also helps prevent costly breakdowns. Water leaks around the indoor unit can also signal a malfunction as the icing gets worse. Don\u2019t let this happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address the Ice Right Away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve got to get rid of that ice. Once you\u2019ve turned the AC off, it should melt in less than a day. Check to make sure it doesn\u2019t overflow the condensate pan if it\u2019s melting very quickly! Then you can clean the evaporator coils (gently!) and change the air filter. You should also check that all vents, supply and return, are allowing air to flow freely. Clear leaves and debris from the outdoor unit so proper airflow is maintained. Then turn the AC back on. Problem solved? Yay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Routine maintenance includes cleaning and performance checks, and preventative ac service, including tune ups and thermostat checks, can help keep your ac system at peak performance, protect your investment, and support an air conditioning system lifespan of 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance. Reliable service also helps keep homes comfortable summer long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the problem continues, though, and ice develops again, you’ll need professional help for <\/a>air conditioner repair in Evanston, IL<\/a>, air conditioning repair, and broader hvac repairs backed by local air conditioning services, chicago air conditioning service, and cooling services in Chicago, IL, with emergency AC services available 24\/7 in Chicago. Our team of hvac experts and experienced technicians can diagnose hvac problems efficiently, complete air conditioner repairs on your air conditioning unit, and handle heating cooling needs while supporting whole-home comfort and air quality. We restore comfort for your family and your home’s comfort, whether the issue involves the thermostat, furnace, or other heating system equipment tied to your chicago heating needs at home or at your business. We provide practical solutions across hvac services in the industry while keeping your budget in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For older equipment, replacement may be the better solution, since modern air conditioners last 15 to 20 years and a new ac system can improve home comfort and energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ductless systems, including mini-split options, can be a smart choice when full installation is needed, and ductless mini-split systems offer easy installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact ServiceMax<\/strong><\/a> with any questions about your air conditioner.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, if you\u2019ve got ice building up on your AC evaporator coil, it\u2019s not good. In fact, it will only get worse if you don\u2019t sort it out promptly. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[23,102],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2011"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2287,"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011\/revisions\/2287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goservicemax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}