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Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog

Why Your Air Conditioner is Icing Over

As you use your air conditioner more and more often this summer, you may notice ice forming on the inside coil of the system. This may seem like a good thing at first, but it isn’t. Air conditioner ice is actually a symptom of a very serious problem that can lead to a full system breakdown. Read on to find out why it happens, and why it’s a threat.

The Evaporator Coil

The air conditioner in your home cools it by using an evaporator coil. This coil evaporates refrigerant to siphon thermal energy from the air in your ducts. It then sends the refrigerant gas outside to be condensed, which releases the collected heat outside of the home. The temperature of the air around the coil is always dropping, and condensation forms on it as the air drops below the dew point. Normally, the constant flow of warm air from the ducts is enough to prevent the temperature from dropping too low. If the air flow is interrupted, though, the condensate will freeze and the coil will ice over.

Problems with Ice

While the evaporator coil is iced over, it will not be able to properly siphon thermal energy from the air. This will cause the output of the system to drop. If not cleaned off in time, the weight of the ice can permanently warp the evaporator coil, requiring that it be replaced. The ice can also spread down the refrigerant line to other parts of the system, causing them to malfunction and break down. This is why you need to call for repairs as soon as you notice ice forming on the system.

Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing offers air conditioner repair services throughout Potomac, MD. If you need air conditioning services of any kind, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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