The Ultimate Guide to Emergency AC Repair and Maintenance
Being the observant homeowner that you are, subtle changes rarely escape your notice. But when you walked past the outdoor condenser unit and saw a large ice buildup on the tubing, it was quite shocking. What can possibly cause ice to develop when the outdoor temperature is hovering near 100 degrees Fahrenheit? Ice might also develop on the tubes or coils near the indoor air handler closet or evaporator coil. Worse still is a watery mess that results when this block of ice begins to melt. What can possibly cause ice to gather when the temperature is well above the freezing point? How significant will the AC repair be?
Why Quality AC Repair Is the Key to Home Comfort
To uncover why ice will develop in the heat of the summer, it is helpful to understand the way gas reacts to pressure. Molecules move around freely until they bump into another molecule. This collision creates a little bit of energy. Compressing gas causes molecules to bump into each other more frequently, which increases the heat of the gas. Releasing the pressure on the gas reduces the number of times the molecules bump into each other, reducing the temperature.
This principle is used to reduce the temperature inside of a home: the warm, moist indoor air is blown across a coil of tubes containing the cool gas. The cool gas collects heat and moves it outdoors. Ice will develop when something goes awry with the refrigerant gas network.
Inadequate airflow across evaporator coils can result from:
- A powerful fan pulling warm air from the home, pushing it across the cool coil, and pushing it back into the home. It is easy for furniture, drapes, or rugs to cover supply vents or air returns, reducing the airflow.
- An efficient air filter inserted into the path of this airflow. Dust, dander, and other airborne particles collect on the filter. When the filter gets completely covered with dust, it will reduce the airflow across the cool evaporator coil.
When the warm air crossing the evaporator coil is reduced, the cold refrigerant gas freezes the moisture that condenses on the coil. The longer these conditions persist, the thicker the ice develops.
Inadequate refrigerant levels maintain the proper temperature. The loss of refrigerant can result in:
- Damage to the network of tubing.
- Various chemical reactions that can result in corrosion, producing pinholes. Since the gas is under pressure, the smallest opening releases the gas into the surrounding atmosphere.
The reduction in gas pressure causes the temperature to drop even further than the design standards.
What to Do When You Spot Ice on Your AC Unit
What should you do if you discover an ice buildup on your air conditioning components?
- Turn the air conditioner off, either at the electrical service panel or by changing the thermostat setting to OFF.
- Turn the thermostat fan setting to ON. This pushes warm air across the ice buildup, melting the ice. Be prepared to clean up the water mess that results from the melt.
- Check the air filter. Change it if necessary.
- Observe the supply vents and the return air vents. Uncover any vents that are covered.
- When the refrigerant gas leaks, it often leaves a black residue. Finding this residue can help locate the pinhole and expedite repairs. The best-case scenario would be to repair the pinhole and replace the gas. However, the cost of replacement of refrigerant might be prohibitive.
- Call Doctor Cool AC Repair to better assess the problem and offer solutions.
Schedule Your Professional AC Repair Today
Don’t let a malfunctioning air conditioner ruin your comfort and drive up your energy costs. Contact our team of experts today to schedule your fast, reliable AC repair appointment before the heat gets unbearable. Give Doctor Cool at (281) 516-5935 now or book online to bring cool, refreshing air back into your home!