Ice forming on an air conditioner is a pretty common issue, even if it seems like one of the strangest occurrences in the world. In fact, the most important thing we want homeowners to recognize from this blog post is that it is a problem that needs to be fixed. Your AC system doesn’t use ice to cool your home, so the more you see ice forming on the outside coil, the more likely it is that your home is warmer than it should be.
Today, we’re going to dive into the intricacies of why ice forms on an air conditioner. We’re also going to mention getting professional air conditioning repair in Slidell, LA. That’s because the only way to get rid of this problem with 100% certainty is with the help of a professional.
Ice can form for a number of different reasons, and we want you to rely on us and our expertise to narrow down the problem’s source and eliminate it.
Why Ice Forms on an AC
Ice can form on an air conditioner because it gets both a lot of humidity traveling through it, as well as a massive temperature fluctuation that should not be happening where it is. Let’s try to examine this problem from another angle.
Your air conditioning system is designed to cool the air volume in your home. That could be one thousand cubic feet of air volume to cool, which is a heavy load for a system to drop the temperature. However, if there’s a problem with the AC unit, and something blocks the flow of air or the flow of refrigerant, that cooling power could be trapped in your air conditioning system, unable to make it to the rest of the house. A 10-foot area is going to get a lot colder than a 1000-foot area, which is why ice can start to form right where the problem originates.
Unfortunately, air conditioners can start growing ice for a number of different reasons.
Diagnosing the Problem
First, let’s start with airflow. If air can’t properly flow through your air conditioning system because your air filter is clogged or there’s some other problem, then your system won’t properly be able to send cool air into the rooms of your house. This can cause ice to build up on the coils, as the moisture collected from humidity mixes with sub-freezing temperatures inside the system, but most of the air can’t escape.
Another issue that can cause ice to form on your AC’s coils is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant needs to evaporate and condense through a cycle, drawing in heat and releasing it over time. When your system leaks a substantial amount of refrigerant, the refrigerant won’t be able to draw in enough heat and it might keep dropping in temperature. This won’t cool your home more, in fact, it will likely cause your home to warm up, while the inside of your air conditioner gets so cold that ice can form.
Impacts of an Iced Air Conditioner
An iced air conditioner can cause major impacts. It can increase the cost of your monthly energy bills. It can also lead to poor comfort in your home, and eventually, a broken down air conditioning system.
Call Natal’s HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical for fast and effective HVAC repair. Service Honoring the Golden Rule!