Discovering a solid layer of ice encasing your air conditioner copper pipes or indoor coil indicates an airflow restriction or refrigerant imbalance that requires prompt attention.
Discovering a solid layer of ice encasing your air conditioner copper pipes or indoor coil indicates an airflow restriction or refrigerant imbalance that requires prompt attention.
Safety note: Never chip ice with sharp metal tools. Copper tubing punctures instantly discharge high-pressure refrigerant gas.
Heat from indoor air keeps the refrigerant inside the evaporator coil above freezing temperatures (usually 40°F–45°F). When a blocked filter or closed vents reduce airflow, heat transfer stops and coil temperatures plummet below 32°F, freezing moisture out of the air onto the coil.
A drop in refrigerant pressure directly drops its boiling point. When system pressure falls below design thresholds, the refrigerant boils below freezing inside the indoor coil, rapidly accumulating moisture into a thick block of ice.
If the blower motor bearings wear out or the blower capacitor fails, the blower wheel spins too slowly to move the required 350–400 CFM of air per ton of cooling across the coil.
Fine dust that bypasses cheap filters coats aluminum evaporator fins with an insulating blanket of grime, preventing heat exchange between air and refrigerant.
According to thermodynamic principles of HVAC, pressure and temperature are directly linked. Lower refrigerant pressure means a lower boiling temperature. When pressure drops below design limits, refrigerant boils below 32°F, freezing ambient humidity on the coil surface.
A moderately frozen coil takes between 2 and 5 hours to thaw safely. Running the fan on "ON" while keeping cooling "OFF" cuts thawing time in half.
Call (833) 889-1258 to connect with a cooling specialist.
Call (833) 889-1258