You really do not have to be a professional air conditioning technician to understand that the sole function of an air conditioner is to cool things down. If you think this means that the development of ice on your air conditioner is normal, though, think again. Yes, your AC is responsible for cooling down hot air, but it is not a freezer. If you start to see ice develop anywhere on your system, you really should have a trained professional check in on it.

There may be a very simple solution to the problem, but it could also be quite serious. Whatever the case may be, diagnosing the problem properly to begin with is every bit as important as repairing it correctly. Work with our team, and you’ll have no doubt about the exceptional quality of your air conditioning repairs in Windsor, CO.

First Things First: What Is Freezing?

One facet of this issue that confuses homeowners is the question of what exactly is freezing to begin with. After all, it is not as though water is used in our central air conditioners. If there is ice on the system, though, that means that water is getting in from somewhere, right?

The ice that you may see develop on your evaporator coil is actually the result of frozen condensation. When refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator coil in order to draw heat out of the air, some moisture is drawn out of the air as well. That moisture drips onto the coil, and then down into the condensate drain pan and out of your home through the drain line. In certain situations, though, the coil may be cold enough for the condensation to freeze up.

Causes of the Freezing Coil

First of all, resolving the issue of condensation freezing on your evaporator coil may be as simple as changing your air filter. If your air filter is extremely dirty, then it will restrict airflow through the system. That restricted airflow means that the evaporator coil may not be able to pull a sufficient amount of heat out of the air surrounding it. When that happens, the coil can get cold enough to freeze this condensation.

Additionally, and much more seriously, you could have a refrigerant leak. The refrigerant in your air conditioner is what allows the system to cool the air to begin with. Air conditioners are designed to work with a certain amount of refrigerant. If your refrigerant is low due to leaks in the system, then the heat transfer process is impeded and you may wind up with ice on your coil.

Continuing to run a system with ice on the coil puts it at risk of overheating, and the excess wear and tear on the system can result in serious damage over time. Make the right choice and contact us the moment that you see ice on your system–and remember to check that filter first!

Schedule your AC services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.