With the weather cooling down, we’ll soon have a few pleasant days when we can switch off our air conditioners for a few hours. However, here in the Kansas City region, we’re still utilizing them rather frequently and may continue to do so into September.
As a result, it’s critical that they function as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as they’re in use. And if you notice ice on that system, we have some bad news for you: it isn’t performing as well as it should.
Fortunately, all you have to do to address this issue is call our experts (no, you shouldn’t try to remove the ice yourself). Continue reading to find out why!
Why Should You Never See Ice on Your Air Conditioner?
When people notice a buildup of ice on their AC coil, they may believe it isn’t a problem. They might even believe it’s proof that their system is performing admirably. This isn’t the case, unfortunately.
Any ice buildup on the coil of your air conditioning system indicates a problem. Actually, it can be caused by a variety of issues! We’ll go over them in more detail later. But the point is that ice may and will ruin your air conditioner if it isn’t dealt with properly.
Scraping off the ice is one (terrible) solution to the problem we’ve seen some people try. That’s never even a good idea if your refrigerator ices up too much, let alone your A/C. Should you notice ice you should not try to remove it yourself, as the chances are that you’ll do more harm than good, especially if you accidentally damage the unit in the process! But, if you were to need to call us out because your air conditioner is icy rather than simply nice and cool, what would we be looking for.
What Causes Ice on Your Air Conditioner?
Ice buildup on your cooling system, particularly on the evaporator coil, can be caused by a number of different factors. Continue reading to learn about some of the issues this could indicate:
Dirt and Debris
Yes, a buildup of dirt, dust, and other material in your HVAC air filter can cause issues with your cooling system. The purpose of this air filter is to protect the inside components of your HVAC system from the particles stated earlier. However, because homeowners frequently wait too long to change the air filter, airflow is impeded.
There isn’t enough air moving over the evaporator coil for it to absorb when airflow is constrained. The coil freezes over as a result of its inability to absorb enough heat.
A dirty evaporator coil
The source of ice is always the evaporator coil, which is one of the most important AC components. Allowing debris and grime to accumulate on the evaporator coil will prevent it from absorbing enough heat to reach the refrigerant.
As a result, ice forms on the coil, similar to the situation described above.
A refrigerant leak
Your air conditioner is supplied (charged) with enough refrigerant to last its full lifespan when it is manufactured. If your system is losing refrigerant, you’ll notice a loss of cooling or possibly a hissing noise, which indicates a leak that has to be fixed. And if there’s a leak, it’s because there’s not enough refrigerant in the evaporator coil to absorb heat in the first place. If that’s the case, then the coil may become excessively cold and form ice.
Hopefully you’ll never need our services in an emergency, but if you do, our technicians will be available. To help prevent emergency call-outs for any reason, don’t forget to book your Fall HVAC check up here. During that appointment we can service both your AC and your heating system, as before you know it, it will be time to make the big annual swap from cooling to heating, and you’ll want to be ready for that!