Ice or frost on your air conditioner can be an unusual sight to behold in the heat of the summer. Yes, it can happen, and it’s not a good thing. So, what are the most common causes of this chilling problem?
Refrigerant Leak
One of the most frequent causes of your air conditioner icing up is low refrigerant due to a leak in the system. Leaks can happen due to constant wear and tear, along with system vibration and weather conditions.
Refrigerant transforms from a gas to liquid and back again in an endless loop, working with other HVAC components of your system to force cooled air into your house through air vents, lowering the temperature of cooling coils, and transferring heat from inside your home, which is blown outside as exhaust. When there is a leak or your AC system is low on refrigerant, the temperature will drop significantly on the coils containing the refrigerant. Condensation from the humidity in the outside air will form as ice on the coils.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
When your evaporator coil is dirty, you’ll experience less airflow throughout your AC system. More electricity is used to keep the system functioning, and there can be potential damage to the compressor.
Air Flow Restrictions
If the air flow is restricted due to blocked or extremely dirty air filters, damaged air ducts or damaged duct work, your AC unit will have difficulty lowering indoor temperatures and can produce frost or ice.
Cold Temperatures
If the outside air temperature falls below 60 degrees, which can happen during a monsoon storm, it can be too cold for your AC unit to run properly. Frost or ice can form outside the unit.
Mechanical Issues
When a fan motor or blower fan is damaged or if there are twisted refrigerant lines or blocked drains, your AC cooling system may ice over.
The bottom line—if you see ice or frost on your HVAC system, especially during the summer, it’s time to call Cool Blew. We can quickly diagnose and repair the root cause of the problem. Call us today at 623-872-2900.
