Air conditioners make things cold. That’s their whole purpose, obviously. Does that mean it’s a good sign for ice to build up on an air conditioner? That means it’s very cold, right? Well, no. In fact, ice on an air conditioner’s coils is an indication that the system needs AC repair. What’s going on? Here’s some info.
Evaporator Coils
When ice builds up on an air conditioner, it’s almost definitely occurring on the evaporator coils. These are part of the indoor unit, the tubes that the refrigerant flows through as it is soaking up heat from inside the home. From there, the refrigerant flows outside, to the condenser coils in the outdoor unit, where the heat is allowed to dissipate.
That means that when it’s indoors, in the evaporator coils, the refrigerant should be increasing in temperature as it absorbs warmth from the air. It should definitely not be cold enough to generate ice. So what’s happening?
Insufficient Heat Absorption
For some reason, the refrigerant is not able to take on heat from your home the way it should. This means that it’s staying super-chilled. Just like a very cold beverage, condensation from the warm air will cling to the outside of the coils. And because they’re so cold, that condensation will freeze. But why isn’t the refrigerant heating up?
Possible Causes
There are a few different reasons why this might be happening. Perhaps there was something directly blocking absorption. This can happen if layers of dust coat the evaporator coils. It’s almost like covering the coils with insulation, so the heat from the air can’t reach the cold refrigerant. Or perhaps there wasn’t enough airflow, so the warm air wasn’t passing over the coils enough to give it heat to absorb.
The other possibility is that there simply isn’t enough refrigerant. Since an AC system doesn’t use up refrigerant during normal operation, that means there’s a leak somewhere. A damaged coil can allow refrigerant to drip out. Without enough refrigerant flowing through the coils, sufficient heat can’t be absorbed.
The Iced-Up AC Remedy
The first thing you need to do is allow that ice to melt away. Don’t try to chip it off! It would be very easy to cause damage. Just turn off the air conditioner and give it some time. Do check the condensate pan occasionally to make sure the melted ice isn’t causing an overflow. Once the ice is gone, you can give the system a little love.
Clean the coils of the indoor unit. Once they’re totally thawed and have had time to dry, you can use canned air to remove any dust or mess. To improve airflow, change the air filter, which you should be doing frequently anyway. Then try turning the air conditioner back on.
If the problem is solved, congratulations! Just keep the coils and the air filter cleaner from now on. If ice starts to build up again, you need HVAC repair in Orlando, FL. It might be a refrigerant leak, or the lack of airflow could be caused by a blower fan issue and not just a clogged air filter. Either way, a qualified technician can have you up and running again promptly!
Contact Gary Munson Heating & Air Conditioning for AC and heating maintenance and repair in Orlando, FL. You’ll be more comfortable with the best!