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A premium air conditioner should last for years, but finding chunks of ice inside the AC unit requires immediate attention. Poor maintenance and broken parts commonly cause ice buildup on evaporator or condenser coils, whether you have a window unit or a central air conditioning system. Luckily, thawing an air conditioner unit isn’t an expensive repair in most cases. Stick around to discover the basic answers to, “Why is my AC spitting out ice?”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
If you’re wondering why your window air conditioning unit is freezing up or why the air conditioner is blowing hot air, there is a clear issue with your unit. Or, if your air conditioner shuts off by itself, that’s another problem, but at least it’s not spitting ice. That said, you shouldn’t need professional service to spot the cause of a frozen coil, even on a top-rated 15000 BTU window air conditioner.
Insider Tip
You can clean a dirty coil with soap and water, but experts recommend white vinegar for a clogged condensate drain.
If, in addition to seeing built-up frost, a refrigerant leak makes a sound that will have you asking, “Why does my AC hiss?” This noise is a cause for concern because AC coolant works in a closed system, and correcting a refrigerant leak requires an AC technician.
You must change your AC air filters every three to six months. You may want to change it more frequently if you have pets or multiple people in the house. A clogged AC filter disrupts the airflow over the evaporator coils, causing them to get too cold.
An evaporator coil covered in dirt and grime cannot adequately pull heat from the air. Since the warm air cannot efficiently contact the coils, they get too cold, causing frost to build inside the AC unit. If you just thought to yourself, “What does an evaporator coil do?”, be sure to brush up on how they function first to understand why they’re so important to maintain.
Warning
Homeowners must contact an AC repair service for a refrigerant charge because unlicensed handling of Freon refrigerant is illegal.
The fan motor forces the warm air from your home into the cooling process. The fan motor may suffer electrical or mechanical failures, but a loose fan will lose efficiency. A broken or loose fan requires professional intervention unless you’re an experienced electrician.
STAT: A 2020 US EIA (Energy Information Agency) survey showed that 50.7% of American renters have central air conditioning. (source)
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