Why Your Air Conditioner’s Evaporator Coil Is FreezingYour home’s central air conditioner is designed to produce cold air, ensuring comfort during the hot summer months. However, a frozen evaporator coil is a significant issue. Contrary to what some might think, a frozen coil doesn't make the air colder; instead, it prevents the air conditioning unit from functioning correctly, leading to a warmer house.
Here’s an overview of how an evaporator coil works, the reasons it might freeze, and how to resolve the issue. How an Evaporator Coil WorksThe evaporator coil's primary function is to absorb heat, not to create cold air. It removes heat from the air, thereby cooling it. Essentially, the evaporator coil acts as a heat absorber, drawing heat from the air that passes over the coil. For the coil to effectively absorb heat, air must have direct contact with the metal coils. Any obstruction, such as ice, will block this contact, causing the air from your air conditioner to feel warmer. Why an Evaporator Coil FreezesSeveral factors can cause an evaporator coil to freeze:
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Have you turned on your air conditioner for the first time this year and found that your air conditioner is running, but no cool air is coming into your home? You may also have noticed that the air conditioning unit has visible ice and condensation build-up. If this is the case, then you’re experiencing a frozen air conditioner because your AC evaporator coil is freezing up. Call Colorado's most trusted hvac contractor HVAC Arvada , to keep your home comfortable in the hottest summer months.
REASONS WHY YOUR AC’S EVAPORATOR COIL IS FREEZING UPYour air conditioner’s evaporator coil vaporizes liquid refrigerant to make the air cool. These coils are supposed to be cool, but not freezing. In an optimally running air conditioner, the refrigerant vapor stays around 40 degrees. If the coils get cooler than that, they can freeze, and once they freeze, they continue to build up ice. That’s why it’s so important to turn your air conditioner off when this occurs. The most common reason for frozen evaporator coils is insufficient airflow. This is commonly caused by a clogged or dirty air filter, backed-up drain clogs, low fan speed, or a dirty evaporator coil. Check to see how many registers are closed in your home. If more than a quarter of them are closed, it could cause your evaporator coil to freeze. Sometimes low refrigerant levels and leaks are the cause of a frozen AC system. Your air conditioner could also be experiencing a malfunctioning defrost cycle. If your air conditioner cannot keep itself warm enough to prevent ice from accumulating, it means it can’t defrost properly. If you have a window air conditioner unit, make sure it’s tilted so the indoor portion is slightly higher than the outdoor half to make sure it’s draining properly. WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A FROZEN EVAPORATOR COILFirst, you’ll want to turn off your air conditioner. Inspect your air conditioner inside and out for any obvious signs of condensation or ice. If there is ice, wait until it’s melted before trying to start the air conditioner again. Never chip away at the ice. Although there are some common solutions, you’ll most likely need to call an AC technician from HVAC Arvada to find the cause and make the appropriate repair or replacement. Common AC Repair SolutionsAs a homeowner, there are a few things you can do yourself to help thaw the ice off your AC’s evaporator coil. A professional HVAC technician is the best bet for completely solving the problem, but these are some steps you can take to get the process started.
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Types of HVAC Systems
There are several types of HVAC systems to choose from, each designed for different environments and needs. When deciding on the type of HVAC you need, some factors to consider include your heating and cooling needs, where your home is located, its age, and any existing ductwork. Your HVAC technician can also help you determine the type of system that will best meet your needs. Here are the types of HVAC systems available and how they work to help guide your search: Split System Also referred to as a forced-air system, a split system has one unit inside the home and one outside. This setup can consist of a furnace and air conditioner, an air handler and heat pump, or a furnace and heat pump. Which configuration is best for your home will depend largely on where you live. For example, the furnace and heat pump setup works best in very cold climates. Hybrid Heat Pump System In this scenario, the central heating system includes an electric heat pump that works in conjunction with a furnace. In milder times of the year like the spring and fall, the heat pump heats the home. During weather that's too cold for a heat pump to operate effectively, the furnace takes over. This hybrid system, also known as a dual-fuel system, saves money because it costs less to heat the home with a heat pump than a furnace. Ductless Mini-Split System A ductless mini-split system has an outdoor unit that contains the compressor and condenser, and an indoor air handler mounted in the room that blows the cooled air directly into the room, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute. This type of ductless system is usually best for small spaces, such as garages and workshops, that don’t require a traditional split system, but they aren't suitable for whole-house applications. Typically, these systems are simple enough for homeowners to install themselves. Ducted Mini-Split System A ducted mini-split system uses tubes instead of larger ducts to move air into a room from an outdoor compressor and condenser. This solution is best for homes where there isn’t a lot of room for traditional ductwork. Compared to ductless mini-split systems, ducted mini-splits have the advantage of better air circulation. Packaged System A packaged system contains the traditional components of a split system, but all units are housed outside. This works best for homes that don’t have the space for a heating unit inside. But even if you do have the space for a split system, you might consider a packaged system because they’re quieter, since everything is located outside, and have lower installation costs How Does an HVAC System Work?
HVAC systems are designed to move air, heating or cooling an indoor space in the process. These systems generally have three major elements: a heating unit, a cooling unit, and ducts to move the around the room. An HVAC system starts with the ventilation that brings fresh air into a building. Natural ventilation takes air from open windows, doors, or cracks and uses pressure differences to force the air through a building. With today's tightly sealed homes and offices, this requires the use of fans, blowers, filters, and ducts. HVAC and air conditioning are often used interchangeably. However, the terms actually refer to two different things. Air Conditioning Systems HVAC systems also have a cooling unit, usually an AC unit. To cool air, the fan in an air conditioning unit from HVAC Arvada, draws the air in and forces it over the evaporator’s coils. Filled with refrigerant, these coils draw heat from the air, cooling it. Next, the air moves into the air handler, where a blower sends it into the ducts. As the cool air moves through the ducts, any noxious gasses produced during the process are expelled through the flue. When an air conditioner absorbs heat, the refrigerant vaporizes. To return to its natural state, the refrigerant travels into the compressor, which pressurizes it, and onto the condenser, where it condenses from a vapor back into a liquid. As it does, it expels heat that is blown out by a fan. In some areas where it doesn’t get cold enough for a furnace, a heat pump that can both cool and heat the air is a cheaper option. Either way, these units’ cooling efficiency is measured by their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), and the cool air they produce is distributed into the house through the ductwork. For energy efficiency, you want to shop for a unit with a high SEER rating. The highest efficiency units will have SEER ratings of 20 or more, while the minimum rating is 13. To receive the U.S. government's Energy Star certification, an air conditioner must have a SEER of at least 14. Heat Pumps A heat pump works similarly to a central air conditioner and is based on the same idea that heat is always attracted to cold. To cool the air, heat is absorbed by the refrigerant and expelled out of the building. To produce warm air, a heat pump draws cold outside air over even colder refrigerant. Heat is then drawn into the refrigerant, which heats the coils. The air is drawn over those heated coils, where it rises to the desired temperature and is blown into the home. Furnaces To heat a building using a gas furnace, an HVAC system draws air in through the ducts and forces it into the furnace. When the furnace is running, the combustion chamber heats the heat exchanger to the designed temperature. Air is pushed through the exchanger, heated, and blown by the motor through the ducts and back into the house. An oil furnace like those sold by HVAC Arvada works similarly. An oil furnace pumps oil from a reserve tank through a filter and into a chamber, where it's converted into a mist and sprayed on a burner. The burner ignites, and the flame heats the heat exchanger. Just as it is with a gas furnace, air is then forced into the exchanger, heated, and blown back into the house. Oil furnaces are rare with only 5% of all HVAC systems use them. Some gas furnaces from can be modified to burn liquid propane instead of natural gas or oil. Propane furnaces are a good option for remote areas where other fuel sources might not be as reliable. Additionally, propane furnaces can fit in mechanical closets and other small spaces when square footage is scarce. Whether the furnace runs on natural gas, electricity, or propane, its efficiency is measured by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating, which indicates how much fuel is converted into heat. A furnace with an AFUE rating of 95% converts 95% of the fuel supplied to it into heat. Today, the minimum acceptable AFUE rating is 80%. Particularly high-efficiency models have ratings of 95% to 98%. Each HVAC system varies depending on the heating and cooling needs of a home, where that home is located, its age, its existing ductwork, its heating and cooling needs, and other factors. Ventilation and Thermostats Some systems may also include ventilation systems that direct air out of the house, humidifiers (or dehumidifiers) that adjust the air’s humidity, and air purifiers that filter out spores, bacteria, viruses, and other minuscule particles. An HVAC tech can help you determine which of these additional components, if any, make sense for your needs. All of these are controlled by a conventional or smart thermostat. When the temperature or other criteria reach a set point, it triggers the necessary components to begin running. Some smart systems can even alert you to a problem, remind you to change the filters, and share diagnostics with your HVAC contractor. What Does an HVAC System Do?
At the most basic level, an HVAC system takes in air, cools or heats that air, and blows it into an indoor space, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. That space could be a specific room or an entire building or structure, such as a house, office, school, airport, or even a submarine. An individual component of an HVAC system may serve dual purposes. For example, your home could have a separate air conditioner and furnace, or a heat pump for both cooling and heating. At the most basic level, an HVAC system takes in air, cools or heats that air, and blows it into an indoor space. In addition to moving air and making it comfortable inside, HVAC systems can improve the air by drawing it through filters that remove dust, particles, spores, bacteria, and viruses. Whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers can add or remove humidity to keep the dew point of your home at an ideal level. This can make your home feel cooler without having to run a cooling system. All of these components link to a conventional or internet-connected (smart) thermostat. Depending on the sophistication of your control system, you may be able to program your HVAC equipment through an app to make small changes that help each component run at its peak. Smart thermostats can also reduce the overall costs of heating and cooling your home because they help maintain the temperature within a designated range. What Does HVAC Stand For?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It refers to the systems that regulate and move heated and cooled air throughout residential and commercial buildings, from homes to offices to indoor stadiums. Although there are many options when it comes to HVAC systems, they all work similarly: taking in fresh air and using a mechanical ventilation system to heat or cool it to a desired temperature. HVAC units also can control humidity levels and improve air quality through air cleaners that capture bacteria, spores, and virus-sized particles. The HVAC technician who comes to your home for a pre-installation evaluation will help you determine which system and options are best for you and your home. In our pursuit of healthier living environments, the cleanliness of indoor air often takes precedence. Yet, amidst this endeavor, the significance of air duct cleaning tends to be overlooked. What exactly is air duct cleaning, and why is it crucial? Let's delve into this essential practice, exploring its importance, benefits, and the professional process involved. Defining Air Duct Cleaning Air duct cleaning is a meticulous process aimed at eliminating dust, debris, allergens, and contaminants from the various components of a home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This encompasses cleansing the air ducts themselves, along with other integral parts such as registers, grilles, and diffusers. The primary objective of air duct cleaning lies in enhancing indoor air quality by eradicating the accumulation of particles within the ductwork. Over time, these contaminants can circulate through the HVAC system, potentially leading to health concerns and diminished system efficiency. Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning Cleaner air ducts yield several notable advantages:
Professional Air Duct Cleaning Process When engaging professional services for air duct cleaning, the process typically entails the following steps:
In essence, air duct cleaning plays a vital role in maintaining indoor air quality, enhancing HVAC efficiency, and fostering a healthier living environment. By prioritizing this essential practice, homeowners can enjoy cleaner, fresher air and reap the associated benefits for years to come. The cost of HVAC replacement can vary significantly based on Energy Efficiency HVAC: Simultaneous AC and Furnace Replacement Is your HVAC system failing to keep your home comfortable year-round? While it may be tempting to replace only the malfunctioning unit, opting for simultaneous AC and furnace replacement could offer significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency and long-term cost savings. Discover the advantages and potential drawbacks of this approach to help you make an informed decision for your home and budget. The Benefits of Coordinated HVAC Replacement Investing in both a new furnace and air conditioning system concurrently can result in a host of advantages:
Considerations Against Simultaneous Replacement Despite the compelling advantages of coordinated AC and furnace replacement, there are instances where this approach may not be feasible or practical: Relatively New and Functional Systems: If your existing furnace and air factors such as system size, efficiency ratings, and installation requirements. On average, a new furnace ranges from $2,600 to $6,400, while a new AC unit costs between $3,800 to $7,500. Coordinating both replacements typically averages $7,500, with total costs ranging from $5,000 to $12,500. Homeowners may capitalize on potential savings by bundling both installations and taking advantage of promotional deals offered by contractors. In conclusion, while simultaneous AC and furnace replacement offers numerous benefits in terms of efficiency, performance, and long-term savings, it's essential to weigh these advantages against individual circumstances and budgetary considerations. By carefully evaluating your HVAC needs and consulting with reputable HVAC professionals, you can make an informed decision that enhances comfort and efficiency in your home for years to come. |
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