As you start to use your air conditioner more and more often this summer, you may notice ice starting to form on the inside part of the system. This is a sign that your system is in serious trouble. Read on to find out why ice forms on your air conditioner, and the kind of damage it can do to your system.
Why it Happens
An air conditioner cools a home by evaporating refrigerant in an evaporator coil. The temperature of the air around the coil drops as heat is siphoned from it. Condensate also forms on the coil as the air is cooled past the dew point. Normally, the flow of warm air over the coil prevents the condensate from freezing. If the flow of air is cut off, though, the coil will ice over.
Problems Caused by Air Conditioner Ice
While the evaporator coil is frozen, it will be unable to siphon thermal energy from the air in your home. This will cause the output from your air conditioner to drop. The weight of the ice will eventually grow heavy enough to permanently warp the evaporator coil, requiring that it be replaced.
Evaporator coil ice can also spread down the refrigerant line to other parts of the air conditioning system, like the compressor. The compressor is a gas pump designed to propel refrigerant gas down the refrigerant line to the condenser coil. If the compressor freezes over, the entire system could break down. This is why you should be sure to call for repairs as soon as you notice ice forming on the air conditioner.
Climate Masters offers a full range of air conditioning repair services throughout St. Augustine, FL. If you need air conditioner repairs, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our HVAC experts.
