We are at the hottest time of the year, and there’s no doubt that your air conditioning system is working its hardest to keep you cool and comfortable. It is during our hottest weather that your system will be most prone to malfunction, but it can be hard to tell if your system is compromised when it still runs and cools your home. However, if you see ice on your AC, there is definitely a problem with your system.
It’s Not Normal
It may seem that ice could be a normal part of operation: it is very hot, and parts of your air conditioner are cool. But your AC isn’t made to work this way. When an air conditioner is working correctly, it’s balanced, so there won’t be a huge disparity between the warmer parts and the cooler parts. It is when there is a problem that the balance is off. So why is there ice on your air conditioner? There can be a few reasons for this:
- The air filter is clogged – it’s strongly recommended that you change your air filter every three months to avoid running your system with a clogged air filter. Clogged filters restrict the air flow in your system, which will affect the heat release/cooling process and can lead to icing.
- The fans aren’t working correctly – the fans in your air conditioning system (there are two) help considerably with pushing away the released heated air and pushing cool air into your living spaces. When these fans aren’t working properly, the warm parts of the system stay too warm and the cool parts stay too cold. This creates condensation which quickly freezes onto the cold parts.
- The system has a refrigerant leak – every air conditioner needs an exact amount of refrigerant in order to work correctly. A refrigerant leak will reduce the level of refrigerant in your system, creating an imbalance that can lead to icing.
The AC experts at Downtown Air & Heat can help you with all of your air conditioning repair needs in Orlando, FL – just give us a call!
