Is Ice on My Air Conditioning System Normal?

Updated January 22, 2024

Since most homeowners are not refrigeration professionals, they often don’t know much about how their home’s air conditioning system works. When they notice ice appearing along the indoor coil or elsewhere on the AC, it might seem like it’s business as usual. The air conditioner blows out cold air, so doesn’t it make sense that there might be ice in the system?

However, ice on an AC is not normal. It’s usually a sign of a major repair issue. When you see ice forming on the evaporator coil or near it, call our AC repair technicians right away!

Problems in an air conditioner that can result in ice developing

• Clogged air filter: Make sure that you are regularly clean or replace the AC’s air filter (every 1 to 6 months, depending on the type of filter). If the filter becomes clogged, it will cut off airflow into the AC. The lack of warm air moving across the evaporator coil will lead to it starting to ice over as the air around it remains too cold.
• Dirty evaporator coil: If the evaporator coil picks up too much across it, the layer of dirt will serve as an insulator that will block the coil from absorbing sufficient thermal energy. This will keep the refrigerant inside the coil too cold, and moisture along the coil will start to freeze.
• Refrigerant leaks: This is the most serious problem of all since a drop in the refrigerant level in an AC (known as the AC’s charge) will eventually result in damage to the compressor and other components. The reason that less refrigerant makes the coil colder is that the remaining refrigerant will be unable to absorb the heat necessary to raise its temperature.

If you want a Service Provider who will treat your home like their own, call Golden Rule today. We offer AC repair in Des Moines, IA, and throughout the Greater Des Moines area.

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