Is There Ice on Your Air Conditioner Coil?
In the 21st century, we’ve found exceptionally energy-efficient ways to produce cooling and heating in our homes. By using electricity, refrigerant, and fans in profound ways, we’ve been able to cool our homes without ice for decades. However, most homeowners don’t know how air conditioners work, and thus they still think that ice forming on their coil is good. We’re here to tell you that it’s not.
There’s a common myth that ice forming on your AC means it’s doing an exceptionally good job, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. AC units are built to produce cooling using electricity and refrigerant, with no moisture, which means ice forming is usually a sign that something is wrong and you need AC repair in Chapel Hill.
Don’t believe us? Well, keep reading and we promise we’ll convince you otherwise.
What Does Ice Mean?
Your air conditioner functions in a loop. As refrigerant cycles through evaporation and condensation coils, it draws heat and moves it outside. The cold air that forms in your air conditioner is then pushed into your home, and the process begins again. There has to be something pretty serious going on for the temperature to drop so low, and for moisture levels to increase so much, that ice forms on your system. There could be multiple problems at play.
Low Refrigerant
Ice could be forming on your AC due to low or leaking refrigerant. When there’s not enough refrigerant in your system, the gas could expand too much in the evaporator coil, causing the temperature to dip. When the temperature dips too much, well, then ice will form where you likely wouldn’t want it. By contacting a professional HVAC technician, your refrigerant levels can be recharged and your air conditioner can get back to functioning accordingly!
Clogged Air Filter
When your air filter is clogged in your AC, it could cause the air to have trouble circulating through your system. That cold air is supposed to be dispersed into your home through your air vents, and if it’s having trouble moving, then it’s going to get stuck in your AC. If you’re still following, that cold air will eventually drop in temperature and start forming ice on your coil.
This can cause a dramatic decrease in energy-efficiency within your system. Your bills will rise and your AC will cease to function as effectively as it normally does.
High Humidity
Don’t forget that there’s another piece to this puzzle. Humidity is required for ice to form, since ice is the product of water and cold temperatures. If you’re running your AC on a super humid day, it could be struggling, and those struggles could combine with the moisture to produce ice. By using a dehumidifier with your air conditioner, your dehumidifier can filter out the moisture from the air while your AC cools your dry home more easily.
If you’re dealing with ice, there could be a serious problem with your system. Only an experienced professional has the tools and expertise to address the problem and return your AC to normal.
Call the pros at Raleigh Heating & Air today for top-notch AC service.