Tags: North Port, North Port AC Company, North Port AC Installation, North Port Air Conditioning, North Port Air Conditioning Repair

If you’re still using your air conditioner, which is a distinct possibility in a place like Florida, you may notice ice forming on the coil of your unit. While this might seem like a side effect of the cooling weather, or perhaps an odd quirk that can be ignored, it is neither. Air conditioner ice is actually a pretty serious issue. Let’s take a look at why air conditioner ice forms, what it can do to your system, and what you can do about it.

Why Ice Forms

Ice forms on your air conditioner as a result of a malfunction with the system’s evaporator coil. The evaporator coil is the part that evaporates refrigerant to absorb thermal energy from the home. There are two side effects to this. First, the air temperature around the coil drops as thermal energy is siphoned off. Second, condensation forms on the coil as the air is cooled past the dew point. The reason that the coil doesn’t freeze over is because a balance of temperature is maintained by the warm air flowing over it.

When the flow of warm air is disrupted, the temperature around the coil drops below freezing and the condensate becomes ice.

The Problem with Ice

If the ice is not removed fairly quickly, the weight of it will warp the coil permanently. The ice can also spread to other parts of the air conditioner, causing them to malfunction. If left alone for long enough, air conditioner ice can eventually cause the entire system to break down. That’s why you need to call for repairs as soon as you notice ice forming on your air conditioner coil.

If you have ice on your air conditioner, call Cliffs Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. We offer air conditioning repair services throughout Port Charlotte, FL.