How To De-Ice A Window Air Conditioner

Ever wonder why you see ice building up on the outside of your window air conditioner? It’s possible that the unit is too large or too powerful for the room it’s supposed to be cooling which can cause ice to form. Even worse, built up ice can stop the unit from cooling leaving you with an uncomfortably hot room.

What should you do if your air conditioner starts to produce ice? You’ll need to deice the unit and perform some general cleaning that will prevent the problem from happening in the future. To find out how to deice the unit, see below:

1. As soon as you notice ice forming, turn the unit off. Running a frozen air conditioner can damage the unit and break the fan. Allow it to thaw out until water drips freely.
2. If the fan is frozen as well, turn the air conditioner on to the fan-only setting. Circulating warm air will help to defrost the fan.
3. Once the unit is sufficiently thawed, turn it off so you can access the filter. You’ll want to remove the filter and clean it with laundry detergent to remove dust and debris that could be blocking it.
4. Rinse the filter with water and allow it to dry completely before putting it back.
5. Take a look at the exterior of the unit - if you notice any dirt or debris blocking the condenser coil vents, it must be removed. This task is complicated and should be performed by a professional. Give us a call and we’ll take care of this problem for you.

The next time you turn the air conditioner on, set the thermostat so the unit shuts off when the desired room temperature is reached. This will prevent the unit from overworking and freezing up again.

Our mission is to provide our customers with the highest level of comfort through quality maintenance, service and installation practices. Since our beginning in 1983, Aspen Air Conditioning has been focused on the comfort needs of Southeast Florida residents at home and at work. So give us a call at 561-395-1500 the next time you need service.