There's Ice On My AC Coil, But The Filters Are Clean—What's Wrong?
If you notice ice on your AC coil, there’s a chance you have dirty filters in Grandbury. But this isn’t the only cause of ice, and there could be a more serious issue at play. In addition to calling an air conditioning service near me, you should also take the time to consider what might be wrong with your HVAC system.
How Do The AC Coils Work?
The coils of your AC work directly with refrigerant to keep your home cool. As the refrigerant in your HVAC changes from a gas to a liquid, it goes under pressure. Then, it moves into the evaporator coils. Once inside the coils, the refrigerant changes back to a gas by pulling in air from the surrounding environment.
After the air is cool, it blows through your ducts and into your home. Eventually, the temperature reaches the setting, and the cycle resumes once your home warms back up. In an ideal world, this is a smooth process with no complications. However, time takes a toll on your HVAC system. It won’t always work the way in which it should, and this could cause ice to form on the coils.
What’s The Issue With Ice On Your Coils?
Your AC is a delicate system, and any minor issue could keep it from running. If you have ice on your air conditioner coils, the system won’t be able to function well. The ice forms a barrier between the refrigerant and the air. Although the refrigerant might be able to cool some of the air, it won’t be as efficient as usual.
So, even though your AC can work if it has ice on the coils, there are consequences. The ice on your coils could cause high energy bills and make your AC work harder than necessary. As your HVAC system struggles to cool your home, the components experience wear and tear. It may only be a short time before something breaks and you have no cold air on a hot summer day.
Of course, the big issue is that ice on the coils is an indication of a malfunction. It’s not normal for ice to form on evaporator coils. If this is happening, you should call an HVAC service near me to troubleshoot the issue.
Why Is There Ice On Your Coils?
If you ask an expert why you have ice on your coils, they will probably tell you to check your air filters. One of the most common reasons for ice to accumulate on coils is because of dirty filters. When your air filters become too dirty, your system needs to work hard to cool your home. There isn’t enough warm air to move across the coils, and the refrigerant in the coils becomes so cold that the coils freeze.
It’s easy enough to find out if this is your problem. If you pull out your air filters and they aren’t dirty, you can be sure that this isn’t the cause of your frozen coils. You probably have another issue and should seek professional help. Other common causes of ice build-up include:
- Leaking Refrigerant: When your HVAC system is low on refrigerant, it can’t function properly. This is one of the more common causes of ice build-up on evaporator coils. The coils don’t have enough refrigerant to absorb heat, and the low temperature makes ice form. Although the refrigerant is in a closed system, a leak could cause the refrigerant level to drop.
Over time, refrigerant leaks become more likely. Unfortunately, a refrigerant leak can eventually lead to complete failure. You need a professional to replace the refrigerant. If your system uses Freon, you may want to completely replace your AC with one that uses another type of refrigerant. Because Freon contributes to climate change, it’s no longer manufactured. You can replace your Freon, but it comes at a high cost. - Other Potential Causes: There are only two other likely causes of ice on your coils. First, you might have faulty fan motors. If your fan motors don’t work, your refrigerant won’t flow through your system properly. Once again, you need professional assistance.
Secondly, you could have dust on your coils. As your coils become dirty, they don’t work as well at transferring heat. The lack of heat exchange causes ice to form and your system to fail. Fortunately, this is an easy issue to prevent. If you schedule ongoing maintenance with an HVAC technician, you can have your coils cleaned on a regular basis.
What You Should Do About Ice On Your Coils
As soon as you notice ice on your coils, check your air filters. Assuming they are clean, you should then proceed to call a professional. You should never try to scrape the ice off your coils because you could damage them. Furthermore, scraping the coils won’t address the real issue. Ice will continue to form, and the problem will persist. You could do much more harm than good if you try to remove the ice.
Rather than deal with ice on your coils, you should be proactive. Take measures to protect your HVAC system from problems. With preventative maintenance, you may be able to limit the chance of ice forming on your coils. Some simple maintenance tips include the following:
Changing out your filters every one to three months, depending on the amount of dust and dander in your home
Hiring a professional to clean your coils every year, or more frequently if needed
Knowing the signs of low refrigerant and addressing the issue early on, before ice forms
Looking For An Air Conditioning Service Near Me?
Whether you see ice on your AC coils or you simply want advice on how to prevent ice from forming, you can count on us at Daffan Cooling and Heating. Our highly experienced team has what it takes to repair all of the issues with your AC in Grandbury or to provide regular maintenance. If you’re looking for an air conditioning service near me, stop looking and start taking action. Give us a call today and we can get started.
