Why are the pipes on my air conditioning covered in ice

Question

my air con wasn't working properly so i check outside and all the pipes are frozen and the lagging has gone. this has just happened it was working fine for the last 12 months

Answer 1

it just got two cold and it froze, usually starts happening if you use it too much, let it melt then it should work fine after

Answer 2

She's froze up.Run your fan all by itself and turn your cool off for 45 minutes to clear the ice.Usually caused by dirty filter,dirty coil or low refrigerant.Good luck.

Answer 3

it might because because you've "overworked it" that happened to my grandma's a/c and she ended up just turning it off for a couple hours till it melted and when she turned it on it was fine. Try not to lower or raise the temperature more than five degrees at a time. If you don't let it melt then it could lead to be a bigger problem  

Answer 4

turn it off wait for the ice t melt and turn it back on.

Did it rain recently while it was running?

Answer 5

Super Mario!

Answer 6

A blocked air filter could cause this.

Answer 7

Aire conditioners actually have a 'defrost' cycle.  Yours isn't working.  You need to call a repairman.

Answer 8

Turn off the unit and call a service tech.  It probably needs freon and a tech cannot work on it while it is frozen.  

Answer 9

because they are cold?

no but for serious... you are trying to keep your house to cool and the moisture in the atmosphere condensates on the pipes which causes the unusual ice to form on your pipes, because the atmospheric difference in the cold in your pipes and the warmth outside... in other words... you need to stop being greedy and let your house warm up a bit.... or rap your pipes and be more green.  

Answer 10

is it really cold outside?  

Answer 11

we had the same thing happen...you will likely have to get a whole new unit put in.....sorry.      ......all the best, i hope you can get a good deal!!

Answer 12

your air conditioner is freezing over. time for a new air conditioner.

Answer 13

you were running to hard. let it thaw and cut it back on.

Answer 14

The freon is leaking and causing the condensation around the pipes to freeze.

Answer 15

Heat displacement and condensation

Answer 16

because you live in alaska!!!

Answer 17

You need to change your filter,an air conditioner will freeze up if it does not get good air circulation,so check your filters,some need to be replaced and some just need to be cleaned,do this and the ice forming on your pipes will stop and your air will be cooler,and it will also save on your power bill,hope this helps.

Answer 18

You have to turn it off once in awhile.  

Answer 19

Turn it off for a while then turn it back on.. that happen at my job and once we did that it was ok...the air that travels thorugh seems to be extremely cold makin the pipes icy

Answer 20

Usually the air flow across the evaporator coil has dropped markedly.  I would replace the air filter (or clean it if it is of that style), make sure the blower motor is working properly, and that there is nothing else retarding air flow like dirt on the coil.

Allow the ice to melt fully and allow the water from the melt to drain off.

Answer 21

you have a pretty big freon leak call ur local HVAC TECH ASAP