Why Ice Forms On Air Conditioners and Why It’s Bad

Parts of your air conditioner need to be cold in order to cool your indoor air. However, if you see ice forming on any part of your air conditioner, this signals a problem that needs to be addressed ASAP.

Below, our Gainesville HVAC pros will explain the most common reasons why air conditioners can “ice up,” and what you can do about it.

1. The system isn’t getting enough airflow.

When everything is working properly, your air conditioner is pulling in the same amount of air that it’s sending out. Warm air from your home blows over the indoor evaporator coil, transferring its heat to the coil and the refrigerant inside it. If something prevents air from entering your AC, the evaporator coil can get so cold that the condensation on it will start to freeze.

So what causes a lack of airflow? Typically, the culprit is a dust-clogged air filter that’s overdue for a replacement. Inadequate airflow can also occur if something is blocking your system’s return vent. If you see ice forming on your AC unit, check these two things first. Then you can defrost your unit by adjusting your thermostat so that only your HVAC system’s fan is running, while neither heating nor cooling.

2. The evaporator coil is too dirty.

As mentioned above, your AC’s evaporator coil contains refrigerant, which allows the coil to get extremely cold. As long as the metal coil is clean, your home’s warm air can easily transfer its heat to the coil and the refrigerant.

However, if the coil becomes coated in dust and grime, the heat transfer process becomes less effective. This can allow the coil to become cold enough for the condensation on it to freeze. If this issue is causing ice to form, it’s best to stop running your air conditioner until a technician can clean the coils (something which is normally done during a preventative maintenance appointment). In the meantime, you can run the fan to defrost your system.

3. The blower fan motor is broken.

Your blower fan is what keeps air moving through your AC system. If there’s a problem with the blower fan motor, the fan won’t function, and your AC can get the airflow issues mentioned above that lead to ice formation. You’ll most likely know that there is a blower fan problem because either you won’t feel any air coming out of your vents, or the fan will only be able to blow at certain speeds.

4. There’s not enough refrigerant in your system.

Yes, this seems counterintuitive. Why would ice form on an AC’s evaporator (indoor) coil when there is a lack of refrigerant?

When your AC has less refrigerant than it should, there’s going to be a lack of pressure in your AC system. This lack of pressure causes the refrigerant to “overcompensate”—instead of absorbing some heat, it removes so much heat at once that the evaporator coil can freeze over. You may even see ice forming outdoors on the refrigerant line leading to your outdoor AC unit..

What To Do If Ice Forms on Your Air Conditioner

Ignoring ice on your air conditioner can lead to major system issues. The ice formation will cause your system to overwork itself to a point where the compressor may be damaged beyond repair. Just how bad of a situation is that? In some cases, the cost to replace a compressor is so high that you may be better off buying a new air conditioner.

Avoid costly repairs by taking the following steps if ice has formed on your air conditioner:

Turn off the system.
Make sure nothing is blocking the return vent and that all the other vents are open.
Put in a fresh, new air filter.
Turn on your system’s fan to defrost your indoor AC unit. Be sure that only the fan is running and that your HVAC system is not heating or cooling your home’s air.
If a dirty air filter or a blocked return vent was the problem, you can start to use your air conditioner once the ice has melted.
If the problem was anything else, while your AC is thawing, contact a licensed HVAC professional for help.

Remember, refrigerant can pose a safety risk and an environmental hazard, so any issues involving refrigerant should only ever be handled by a trained professional.

At Bounds Heating & Air, we offer 24/7 emergency appointments to help return comfort to your Gainesville home! Call us today at (352) 472-2761.

6 Habits That Will Make Your Florida Home Less Hot And Humid

As a Florida resident, it’s probably no surprise to you that Florida ranks #2 on the list of states with the highest relative humidity. One problem is that all the moisture in the outdoor air can easily build up indoors as well, decreasing your comfort while increasing your cooling costs and risks of pest and mold issues.

6 WAYS TO DECREASE YOUR HOME’S RELATIVE HUMIDITY

There are multiple ways to make the air less hot and muggy inside your home. Just use these tips from our HVAC and indoor air quality experts!

1. Don’t turn your AC off completely while you’re away from home.

Humid air isn’t just uncomfortable. It also takes more energy to cool, which translates into higher cooling costs.

If you shut off your AC completely, it has to spend a ton of energy returning your home to your desired temperature while also removing all the built-up humidity. Instead, turn your thermostat down, but allow your AC to run periodically while you’re away.

2. Use your bathroom fan or open a window to let out humidity.

Bathing and showering can add a lot of moisture to your indoor air. Counteract this problem by turning on your bathroom fan and letting it run for at least 30 minutes after you’re done bathing or showering. If you don’t have a bathroom fan, crack a window instead.

3. Turn on your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking on the stove.

Using your stove can create steam that can make your kitchen humid, especially when performing activities like boiling pasta or stir-frying vegetables. Switch on your kitchen’s exhaust fan to suck up the moisture.

4. Set your dishwasher to the “no heat” dry cycle.

Your dishwasher can add a lot of humidity to your indoor air during its normal heated dry cycle. Avoid this by using its “no heat” dry cycle setting. You might need to towel off a few dishes before putting them in the cupboard, but your home will feel less humid, and you’ll also reduce your energy consumption as an added bonus!

5. Wait to run your clothes dryer until the evening.

Your clothes dryer is another appliance that can increase your home’s relative humidity. For this reason, it’s best to run it later in the day when the weather has cooled off a bit so that your AC won’t have to work so hard to keep your home comfortable. Your AC will use less energy, and you’ll save money.

6. Install a dehumidifier.

If your home has severe problems with excess humidity, consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier. This device regulates your home’s relative humidity so that you can prevent hazards like mold and mildew growth.

As Gainesville HVAC experts, we know how to get the heat and humidity out of your home. Contact Bounds Heating & Air today for any and all of your HVAC and indoor air quality needs by calling (352) 472-2761.

Repairing vs. Replacing Your AC: How to Decide What to Do

Once your air conditioner starts to get up in years, you might find yourself wondering what’s the best use of your money: should you spend money on another repair or put that money towards a new system?

The fact is that most of the time, it’s going to be significantly cheaper to repair your system than to replace it. However, there are some other factors to consider, especially once your system crosses the 10-year mark.

If you find yourself saying “yes” to one or more of the questions below, it’s probably time to start shopping for a replacement for your current system.

Is your system older than 15 years?

According to the National Association of Homebuilders, you can expect to get about 10 to 15 years out of your air conditioner, 16 if it’s a heat pump. If your air conditioner requires an expensive repair at 15 years of age or older, you’re probably better off replacing it because it’s likely to break down again soon.

Is your air conditioner breaking down more and more frequently?

Repair costs can stack up over time, especially as air conditioners age. Keep track of each one so that you don’t find yourself making repairs year after year on an old unit when you could’ve been putting that money toward a new one.

Does your air conditioner require an expensive repair?

Some repairs and part replacements cost much more than others. If your air conditioner is already past 10 years old and needs a significant repair or part replacement, like a new compressor, check how much the cost of that repair compares to the cost of a new unit. Instead of paying for a repair, that money could instead be used for a substantial down payment.

Does your system use R-22 refrigerant?

R-22 refrigerant (commonly known as Freon) is being phased out in favor of more environmentally-friendly options. This means that the price of remaining R-22 supplies is going to continually increase as they become smaller. Consequently, if your system needs to be recharged with R-22 due to a refrigerant leak, the cost of that alone might be enough to justify an upgrade to a new system.

Are your energy bills costing you a fortune?

Air conditioners lose efficiency as they age, and as a result, they lose their “cooling power” and cost more and more to operate. If your current system is giving you astronomical energy bills or has to run constantly to keep your home cool, it’s probably ready to retire.

There’s no need to sweat it: at Bounds Heating & Air, our Gainesville air conditioning experts make upgrading your system easy as can be. Contact us today to learn how we can help you: (352) 472-2761!

My AC Is Running: Why Is My House Still Hot and Humid?

When your air conditioner is working correctly, it both cools and removes moisture from your indoor air. However, there are multiple factors that can cause your air conditioner to fail at its “dehumidifying duties.”

If your home feels muggy even while the air conditioner is running, one of the reasons below could be why.

1. The thermostat is on the wrong setting.

Before calling your trusted HVAC contractor, check your thermostat settings. Make sure your system is set to “AUTO,” and no “ON.” When the setting is “ON,” your system’s fan is going to run continuously, even if the air conditioner isn’t actively cooling and dehumidifying the air. Basically, the system is just circulating air throughout your home. When the setting is “AUTO,” your system will cool and dehumidify air whenever the fan is running.

2. Dust and dirt are disrupting your air conditioner.

Your system’s air filter can only do so much. If enough time goes by without preventative maintenance, dust and dirt will accumulate on both your indoor and outdoor air conditioner coils. Dust on the outdoor coils inhibits your air conditioner’s ability to disperse heat into the outdoors, which, in turn, interferes with the refrigerant cycle as a whole. A disrupted refrigerant cycle makes it harder for your air conditioner to dehumidify air and perform efficiently.

3. Your indoor AC unit’s evaporator coil is frozen.

Your air conditioner’s indoor unit contains the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil removes heat and humidity from your indoor air. If something is blocking airflow through your system (like a dust-clogged air filter), or if there’s not enough refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil, a layer of ice or frost can form over the coil. When this happens, the coil can no longer extract heat or humidity from your home’s air.

4. Your current system isn’t the right size for your home.

It’s essential that your air conditioning system not be too big or too small for your home. If the system is too big, it’s only going to run for extremely short cycles, which can result in uneven temperatures throughout your home. If the system is too small, it’s going to struggle to cool and dehumidify your home no matter how much it runs.

5. Your current system is getting close to retirement.

Has the air in your home gotten muggier in recent years? According to the National Association of Home Builders, air conditioners last 10 to 15 years, so if your AC system is over 10 years old, then you can bet the humidity problem is an aging air conditioner. When shopping for a replacement, make sure you involve a licensed HVAC professional that can help you choose an appropriately-sized system for your home so that you can avoid problems like the one mentioned above in #4.

6. Your ductwork has leaks.

Ductwork typically “lives” in humid, unconditioned areas, like attics and crawl spaces. As it ages, it can form rips and gaps that allow moisture to mix with your conditioned air. You can also have this problem in relatively new ductwork that wasn’t connected or sealed properly.

7. It’s just really, really humid out.

Right before stormy weather, the air outdoors becomes excessively humid, and even a decent air conditioner in good condition might not be able to keep up. You can help your AC out by keeping all of the windows closed and running your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans when either of those rooms is in use for cooking, showering, or bathing.

If the humidity is so high in your home that it’s creating problems, like mold growth or physical discomfort, you can also install a whole-home dehumidifier. These devices regulate your home’s indoor humidity and keep it at your desired level.

The last thing anyone wants in their Florida home is more humidity. If your air conditioner is giving you problems, don’t hesitate to contact Bounds Heating & Airfor service in Gainesville, Newberry, and beyond: (352) 472-2761.

5 Tips for Reducing Airborne Allergens In Your Home

As the weather heats up, pollen, mold spores, and other allergens become more abundant in the air. Although these pollutants typically originate outdoors, they drift into homes or hitchhike on things like our clothes and bags. While taking prescribed medication can provide much-needed relief from allergic symptoms, there are also steps you can take to lower the concentration of allergies in your home.

HOW TO REDUCE ALLERGENS IN YOUR HOME

Use these tips to breathe easier at home this allergy season!

1. Upgrade your HVAC system’s air filter.

The higher your air filter’s efficiency rating is, the more effectively it will capture airborne particles. If you’re currently using a MERV 7 filter, consider upgrading to a MERV 11 or 13. Although these filters typically cost more, they do a much better job at filtering out tiny particles like pollen, and the rating isn’t so high that it will impede airflow through your system.

2. Take off your shoes at the front door.

We can bring all sorts of things into our homes on our shoes: dirt, dust, pollen, and lots of germs. Avoid this problem by taking your shoes off at your front or back door and placing them on a shoe rack in your entryway.

3. Replace carpeting with hard flooring.

Carpeting can harbor a lot of dust, dander, and other allergens, and every time you walk across it, those particles can get stirred up into the air. Wherever possible, replace your carpeting with materials that are easier to deep clean, like wood or vinyl.

4. Wash or dry your bedding in warm temperatures weekly.

Dust mites are a common allergen in comforters, sheets, and pillowcases, and unfortunately, cold water won’t get rid of them. To remove dust mites, you need to wash your bedding in water that’s at least 130°F or dry your bedding at 130°F if washing it in hot water will damage it.

5. Declutter and dust often.

The more clutter your home has, the harder it is to keep clean and dust-free. When you are dusting, don’t forget often-neglected areas such as:

Air vent and exhaust fan registers
Window treatments
Lampshades
Areas underneath furniture
Ceiling fans
Houseplants

Still feeling sneezy? At Bounds Heating & Air, we offer top-of-the-line indoor air quality solutions throughout Gainesville, including whole-home air purifiers and UV lamps. Contact us online or give us a call at (352) 472-2761 to learn more about how we can help you.

Author: admin