What To Do If You Notice Ice Forming On Your Air Conditioner Coils

Ever wonder why your AC is set but only hot air is blowing out of the vents?  Have you gone outside to find a ball of ice has formed on your coils and your coils are frozen over? Ice on your air conditioning unit may seem strange but it’s just a diagnostic signal of what needs to be repaired at your air conditioning unit.  Here are some DIY steps you do to try to fix the ice problem yourself and if not, we’ve listed the causes why the coils are freezing over to better educate yourself. 

If you notice ice over your air conditioner coils take these immediate steps to prevent further damage to your HVAC system.

1. Turn the system off completely.

2. Change your air filter. This is such a simple fix but it can potentially save you a service call. It is true that having dirty air filter's cause for enough airflow in the system to cause ice to fill

3. Check that all the supply and return grilles are not blocked and completely open. Restrictions at the registers can be big enough to significantly lower airflow which can cause ice to build up on the refrigerant lines.

4. At the thermostat, turn the heater or air conditioner off and the fan on. This will speed that's the process to defrost the ice. The reason the coils are freezing over is that the refrigerant is getting too cold enough to freeze because ice buildup because there is a leak or restriction in the system. It can take 60 minutes or more to defrost the ice depending on the severity so be patient.

5. Once the ice is completely melted, set the thermostat back to cooling mode and keep a close eye on the coils to see if they start to freeze up again.

If changing the filter does not fix the problem call your trusted HVAC technicians at Green ID to properly diagnose and repair the problem.

Why Is Ice Forming On Your Refrigerant Lines?

There are several reasons why your air conditioner coils start to freeze and can form massive blocks of ice. Here is a short list of some of the reasons why that occurs.

1. The air conditioning system is low on refrigerant. If not enough refrigerant was added when a new unit was installed or there is a refrigerant leak in the system the coils can ice up.

2. The filters are clogged. A clogged filter will restrict the airflow into the system. Depending on how clogged it is they can severely limit the amount of air that passes over the coils which is necessary to remove the heat or cool air from the home depending on the season. Filters should be changed regularly about every 30 days in the summer in Phoenix.

3. The air conditioning filter dryer is clogged. Purpose of the filter dryer is to protect the compressor from debris and contaminants. Air-conditioning filter dryer becomes clogged refrigerant will not flow through freely and will start to build up causing the coils to freeze. A Green ID technician can check if the filter dryer is clogged and make the necessary replacement to get the system working properly again.

4. The air conditioner system has a refrigerant leak. A refrigerant leak can occur over months before you ever start to notice any changes in your comfort or energy bills or it happens quickly. Either way if your air conditioning system does not have enough Freon to remove the cold air from your house in the winter and warm air in the summer, your coils will start to freeze and ice up.

5. The air conditioner blower speed is set too low. The blower speed may have not been set right or changed during your last air conditioning service. This may have been done to make the air colder air coming out of the vents but can have a negative effect of not transferring enough heat across the evaporator coils. And our air-conditioning technician's will inspect the fan settings at the air handler or furnace and the thermostat wiring to ensure your system has the proper airflow to prevent icing up.

6. Dirty evaporator coil. If your indoor coils have never been cleaned there is likely a healthy layer of duct covering the coils which will cause the coils to freeze up.

Some air-conditioning systems are equipped with a defrost mode that will automatically melt the ice off the coils once. When the air conditioner is running in defrost mode hot air well actually blow out of the vents even if it's the middle of the summer. If you feel warm air coming out of your our vents it's probably your defrost sensors working to melt the ice off your evaporator coils.

If you need an emergency AC repair without the emergency AC fees call Green ID at (602) 926-1650 and get your AC repaired today. Mention this blog to get a free trip charge and 5% off any repair.

Best Priced Heat Pumps in Phoenix

If you are doing your research looking for the best priced, inexpensive heat pumps around Phoenix we at Green ID have put together a short list of heat pumps you can use as a quick reference. We understand that finding an inexpensive heat pump that lasts for years and saves money on your energy bills is a top priority. You’ll be glad to find inexpensive heat pumps from a variety of AC brands that don’t break your budget or compromise on quality.

Tips From A Heat Pump Contractor On Buying An Inexpensive Air Conditioning Unit

Here are a few tips help maximize your dollars to find the best priced, inexpensive heat pump for your home.

1. EER (pronounced “ear”) is more important than SEER in Arizona. SEER is how we measure the efficiency of the heat pump, the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient it’s operation is and less you’ll spend on your energy bills. EER is almost exactly the same as SEER but it is how we measure the efficiency of how the heat pump operates at higher temperatures more like Phoenix. The SEER rating is done in an air conditioned factory at 76 degrees, EER ratings are done at 95 degrees. You want the heat pump that performs well at higher temperatures, so ask about the EER rating of the system. Often times you can have two air conditioners that have the same SEER rating, but different EERs. If they are the same cost, you can claim more energy savings for free!

2. Don’t just consider a unit upgrade, discuss the whole house and see if it’s feasible to go with a smaller heat pump with a Manual J calculation with a home performance upgrade. Sometimes we can save a homeowner more money by upgrading the insulation, sealing the ductwork and sealing all the leaks with a lower SEER than spending more money upfront on a higher efficiency unit but not addressing the other attic issues. Another example would be having existing ductwork that’s designed to handle only 3 tons of air on a 4 ton system could be the cause of rapid aging of an air conditioner. Have an energy audit performed on your house by Green ID as part of the heat pump replacement scope can help save on upfront costs and operating costs.

3. Ask about rebates and current promotions. Often manufactures will have separate running promotions that bring down the cost of heat pumps and air conditioners. Sometimes the rebates come from manufacturers that are less known but still have a good reputation for quality where you can get a more efficient unit for the same price as a standard heat pump from a better known manufacturer.

5 Best Priced and Reliable Heat Pumps ​

We have installed and serviced each manufacturer on our short list of the 5 best priced heat pumps for the Phoenix market to ensure you are getting a well-made air conditioner at the best price. All of these heat pumps feature upgrades like rust resistance screws, hail protective guards and 10 year warranty’s.

#1 Trane XR14

​Trane’s inexpensive XR14 heat pump line is just as reliable as its higher end models. Efficiency ranges are SEER 14 – 14.5 and EER 11.0 – 12.0. Trane has an optional indoor air quality filter to cut down on household pollutants and dust. We service all Trane units, are certified Trane dealers and have seen minimal issues with the quality of their units. Learn more about Trane heat pumps here.

#2 Carrier Comfort Series

Carrier features SEER rating up to 16 and features a quiet, low decibel rating. Carrier is a big advocate of its dealers to perform a load calc on your home to ensure the right size unit is installed to avoid call backs. At Green ID we always perform load calculations with our energy audits and never take short cuts that most contractors do which lead to high energy bills and hot rooms in the summer. Read more about Carrier heat pumps here.

#3 Day and Night Performance Series

​Day and Night heat pumps are very space friendly, often with a smaller footprint than other manufacturers for installations in tight areas. Day and Night has efficiency rating of SEER 14 – 14.5 and EER 11.5 – 11.7, with ultra quiet systems no lowers than a common hair dryer. Learn more about Day and Night heat pumps here.

#4 Rheem Classic Series

Rheem requires all their dealers to perform a load calc on your home to ensure the right size unit is installed. At Green ID we always perform load calculations with our energy audits and never take short cuts that most contractors do which lead to high energy bills and hot rooms in the summer.

#5 Frigidiarie’s F-Series 

Frigidiarie’s F-Series warranty is fantastic where if any major component is defective within 10 years of its installation, Frigidiare will replace the entire unit, not just the defective part. Efficiencies range from SEER 14 – 15 and EERs 11.5 – 12.5. Learn more about Frigidaire’s inexpensive AC units. ​

​Why Do I Need a Load Calculation?

When purchasing a new heat pump, it’s very important that a complete evaluation, or “load calculation” is performed. By doing this, a Green ID consultant will look at all the factors that affect the heat gain and loss of your home. Bigger is not better in the air conditioning and heat pump world. We take into account the size, shape, and orientation of your home, what type of insulation and how much you have is important along with window size, type, quantity, and the directions they face. We will also perform a leakage test of the ductwork and air leaks. By combining these and other factors, your Green ID consultant will evaluate what size unit your home requires. An over or under sized unit is one of the most common problems with any system; when a licensed Green ID technician performs a load calculation, you will have a more efficient system and a more comfortable home.

Why Super Low Cost Heat Pumps Can Cost Homeowners In The End

At Green ID we say, the most important day of an air conditioning system’s life, is the first day it’s installed. You can be sure your heat pump installation will be done by following the best practices that may cost us more, but are the right thing to do to keep your heat pump running smoothly for years. We don’t take short cuts that save money to AC companies but end up costing the homeowner more on their energy bills and in the shortened life of its components.

We are here to help, click here to contact us or call (602) 926-1650 today.