Goettl Air conditioning unit

What Does Ice on an Air Conditioner Mean?

thermostat-going-redIn certain parts of the country, there is still snow on the ground (or even in the forecast!). In other parts of the country, signs of warmer weather are becoming more apparent, though the real hot temperatures are still a ways off. Here in Arizona, though, we’re already seeing temperatures in the upper 70’s, or even the mid to high 80’s!. Our air conditioning systems often get a much earlier start than those in other areas, which is exactly why it is so important that you have yours tuned up and ready for action sooner rather than later.

Now, routine air conditioning maintenance is definitely the best way to keep your AC up and running properly. The truth of the matter, though, is that even the best air conditioners that are the most diligently maintained are not going to function 100% reliably. No mechanical system will. The best thing to do is to learn the warning signs of problems, so that you can schedule prompt air conditioning repairs. One issue that you may encounter is ice building up on your system.

Ice on the Evaporator Coil

You may not have much cause for checking in on your evaporator coil. However, it is actually very beneficial to do so every now and then. You may not feel comfortable cleaning your evaporator coil on your own — which is something that we are happy to do for you — but peeking into that air handler from time to time means that you can catch signs of icing over early on.

Your evaporator coil is the point at which refrigerant is evaporated, hence the name. The evaporation of your refrigerant allows for the removal of heat from the air within your home. If there is ice on your evaporator coil, then it will impede this process, causing your system to overwork itself in trying to cool your home. That is why it’s a problem — but what causes the icing?

If it is your evaporator coil that’s iced over, it could be something as simple as a dirty air filter. You could also have blower fan problems. How does  this cause icing? By restricting airflow. If there is not enough hot air moving over the evaporator coil, then the coil can get too cold. When that happens, the condensation that collects 0n the coil before being drained down the condensate drain/pan assembly can freeze over. The thicker the ice gets, the more insulated the coil, so this is something of a self-perpetuating problem.

BONUS PRO-TIP!

Air conditioners do not use water in their operation (other than swamp coolers, which don’t use a refrigerant cycle). If you have a central AC or heat pump, and see water surrounding your indoor unit, it could be ice melting off of your evaporator coil.

Ice on the Condenser Unit/Refrigerant Lines

If you have ice on your outdoor unit, you’d probably be surprised considering just how hot the air outside is. Obviously, this is an abnormality. Ice on the outdoor unit, along with frost or ice on the refrigerant line themselves, will generally indicate a refrigerant leak. Basically, having too little refrigerant in the system is going to lead to issues with the heat transfer process, which can cause this icing. You may also have a refrigerant leak if your evaporator coil is iced over, though it’s not as immediately obvious and would likely be accompanied by these other points icing over.

Allowing your system to run when it’s icing over can lead to serious strain on your AC, particularly on your compressor. With weather as hot as ours, that is just inviting catastrophe to your system. Don’t let your system overheat and burn out. Contact us to have the problem resolved immediately.

Goettl Air Conditioning is here for all of your air conditioning service needs.

Testimonials

What Our Customers Say About Us

Veronica CernaVeronica Cerna
17:32 21 Mar 24
Our experience with Goettl and in particular their Inspector Nacho has exceeded our expectations. His inspection was thorough. We felt comfortable expressing our concerns and his positive response put our mind at ease. We thank him and the Goettl crew for taking care of our AC plumbing and repair needs and their support to us as customers.
Amanda RehmannAmanda Rehmann
17:23 21 Mar 24
Rudy and Chris came out and were SO helpful. They went above and beyond to help me with water damage and working with my insurance. Highly recommend!
jaime enriquejaime enrique
16:46 21 Mar 24
Robert BaylorRobert Baylor
16:42 21 Mar 24
Val CastanedaVal Castaneda
15:57 21 Mar 24
We had a stubborn clog in our shower that we were at our wits end about. Decided on calling Goettl and we’re very pleased at the service from beginning to end. Very prompt and professional. Andrew was great and explained everything and our options very clearly. We were very pleased with service today. Thank you so much!
Gerald WiestGerald Wiest
16:49 19 Mar 24
The water softener (which is outside) was ruined by the recent weather. Rudy and Chris were able to diagnose the problem and replaced the softener on same day. This was critical to avoid any plumbing problems in the house. We appreciate their professionalism and attention email to detail.
Mr crab son wakandaMr crab son wakanda
16:31 19 Mar 24
Abdiel did a very good job
Keith RobbinsKeith Robbins
16:24 19 Mar 24
Thank you Jason Cruz very professional and I sighed up for the monthly plan at just $14.95 a great value I learned so much from your vist. Saved me $130.00 yessssssss
Robert PenaRobert Pena
16:16 19 Mar 24
C J (CJ)C J (CJ)
17:42 11 Mar 24
I got a quote for over $3,000 for the last expensive water heater replacement. Way over priced. Will not be using you guys, nor recommending you either.
Gray Garland JamesGray Garland James
17:33 11 Mar 24
Roy is outstanding: professional, thorough, friendly! He understood our HVAC ducting issues and devised the appropriate solution. He was very personable and it was an absolute pleasure to work with him!
Heather HassellHeather Hassell
17:31 11 Mar 24
Chuy Flores with Goettl plumbing and Air, is an absolutely awesome professional plumbing !! If i could give him more than 5 stars i definitely would!!! Chuy is very respectable and knowledgeable in the HVAC industry and gets the job done the right way!! !!!
Desiree FraireDesiree Fraire
17:28 11 Mar 24
Jehad came to my home today and helped me to get a great system in place for my old home. We are getting an upgrade at a good price. He is a great tech.
Marilyn AndersonMarilyn Anderson
17:23 11 Mar 24
Roy was professional and knowledgeable about what needed to be done. Service was performed quickly and efficiently with no surprises.
Ashley RogersAshley Rogers
23:25 08 Mar 24
We had Goettl come out and service our ac units.The Billy McDermott, the technician. Was great. He explained the process and then did the work. I would recommend Goettl and Billy!
Angelia HahnAngelia Hahn
17:58 08 Mar 24
Peter was awesome and explain everything very well.
Thomas FraustoThomas Frausto
16:03 08 Mar 24
Ruby and Chris were very professional and thoroughly explained what they were doing. They left the area just as they found. Excellent service!
Allison De PaoliAllison De Paoli
23:40 07 Mar 24
Very knowledgeable
mark rodriguezmark rodriguez
23:17 07 Mar 24
Carlos,was absolutely the best. Professional to the max, honest and respectful. Answered all my questions.
Lynnie MichelleLynnie Michelle
17:38 01 Mar 24
Great service from Rudy and Chris
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