As summer very quickly approaches, you’ll be relying on your air conditioner more and more to keep your home cool throughout the season. When you do, you might notice ice forming on the coil of your system. This may seem normal, or even like a good thing. After all, an air conditioner is providing cold air, so isn’t ice okay?
Unfortunately, ice on you air conditioner is actually a sign that the system is in trouble, and you should call for repairs as soon as you can. Below, we’ve shared some information on why air conditioners ice over at times, why it’s a problem, and what you can do about it.
The Function of Your Evaporator Coil
The source of ice developing on your air conditioner is its evaporator coil. This coil functions by evaporating refrigerant during operation in order to siphon thermal energy from the air within your home. When this occurs, the temperature around the coil drops, and condensate forms on it as the air is cooled past the dew point.
In an ideal situation, the constant flow of warm air form your ductwork maintains a balance, preventing the temperature of the coil from dropping too low. However, if the flow of the air is interrupted due to a broken air handler, or even an obstructed air filter, the temperature of the air around the coil will eventually decrease to a point that the condensate will freeze.