The first thing you should know is that ice development on your air conditioner is absolutely not normal. We understand why you might see ice on your AC system and think that it simply means your system is working too well. But your air conditioner is there to cool the air, not to create sub-freezing temperatures. An AC that is freezing over is definitely a good reason to call in West Palm Beach, FL air conditioning repair professionals.
Keep reading to learn more about when ice may actually form on your air conditioner, and how it’s able to. We should mention, not all causes of this problem are terribly serious, but one of them can be. Also, the results of ice itself can have serious consequences for your cooling system. It’s always better to be safe than sorry—so after ruling out an obvious quick fix, be sure to give us a call.
How Does Ice Form?
Okay, so maybe you think this is a silly question. You just need some cold conditions and water in order to ice to form, right? But, when you think about it, that doesn’t make much sense—your air conditioner doesn’t get that cold and at no point does water run through it.
The water is actually coming from the air. Your AC system isn’t a replacement for a whole-home dehumidifier, but it does have dehumidifying properties on the air that runs over your system’s evaporator coil and cools off. This results in condensation on the coil. When this all operates as it should, your air conditioner drains this condensate out of the house via the condensate drain assembly. So, why might it freeze?
The Coil Is Too Cold—But Why?
There are a number of reasons why your evaporator coil might get cold enough to freeze the condensation that’s collected on it. First off, you may have a refrigerant leak. This is an issue that only a trained and experienced professional AC repair technician can handle. Your system doesn’t consume refrigerant, so low levels means you’re suffering from a leak, which can seriously damage your air conditioner.
Another possible cause for ice development is a bit less serious—it’s a cleanliness problem. A very dirty (and clogged) air filter, for example, can inhibit airflow to the point that your system isn’t able to draw a sufficient amount of heat out of the air passing over the evaporator coil. Simply changing out your air filter should resolve the problem if that’s actually the case.
The evaporator coil itself might be dirty, as well. This isn’t too complicated of a problem, but you should let a trained professional access the coil and clean it thoroughly to help prevent further damage. Letting dirt and grime rest on your evaporator coil insulates it and prevents heat transfer, as does the ice. Remember—it’s not enough to simply remove the ice. Not only could you damage the coil while attempting this, it doesn’t resolve the problem that caused the ice development.
Contact Envirotech Air Quality Services for reliable air conditioning services!
