Is your AC frozen? This unfortunate problem could happen to you. It’s especially strange to think of equipment freezing during hot summer days. But if notice your home’s air conditioning system doesn’t feel like it’s working adequately, you may find that your air conditioning unit is covered in ice. The cause of this freezing is the evaporator coil; the part of your air conditioner system that transfers (evaporates) heat from the inside your home to outside.
What causes an air conditioner to freeze up:
- Inadequate Air Flow. Anything that restricts the air flow over the coil surfaces can disrupt the balance of your AC system and cause icing. Dirty filters, damaged blower motors and dirt build-up on the evaporator coil can all seriously obstruct air flow.
- Insufficient Refrigerant. Refrigerant leaks or low levels of refrigerant can make the cold coil too cold and allow moisture in the air to freeze and accumulate.
- Temperature. Faulty thermostats or thermostats that are set too low can cause an air conditioner to run constantly, which can eventually drop the temperature of the condenser below freezing. Also most outdoor AC units do not function well in temperatures below 60 F. If your nighttime temperatures are too low, the air conditioning system will not operate properly and freeze-ups can occur.
What to do when your air conditioner is frozen
- First, turn off your air conditioning system completely off and let it defrost.
- Next, clean or replace any dirty filters and remove any visible dirt or obstructions.
- Open all registers completely and make sure furniture or draperies are not blocking them.
- Last, call an Air Conditioning Repair Expert. Your AC system will need to be inspected to ensure there are no refrigerant leaks or damage to your equipment. NOTE: If you let the AC continue to run after the coil freezes up you are wasting money and risking damage to the compressor, the most expensive part of the air conditioner.
Regular maintenance on your air conditioning system helps you avoid many of these problems that can lead to a “frozen” air conditioner. During regular maintenance filters are cleaned or changed, thermostats are checked and leveled, refrigerant is checked for proper charge, and coils are inspected.
Weather Master Heating & Air Conditioning provides metro Raleigh air conditioning repair. Give us a call if you’re in the Triangle and need help with your home’s air conditioning system.