What Causes My AC To Freeze Up?
It might sound bizarre, but air conditioners can freeze in the middle of summer. A frozen AC can leave you sweating in the middle of July and cause serious system damage if ignored. Follow these frozen air conditioner troubleshooting tips to get cold air blowing again as soon as possible.
Common Reasons for an AC To Freeze & How To Fix It
There’s no single answer to the question, “Why does my AC freeze?” Several problems can lead to frozen coils, which are often followed by reduced efficiency, performance issues, and an eventual breakdown. Here are some of the most likely causes and what you can do about them.
Dirty Evaporator Coils
The evaporator coil is located inside the unit, near the air handler or furnace. When clean, it effectively absorbs heat from the indoor air. But when it’s covered in grime, it becomes insulated, preventing heat transfer between the refrigerant in the coil and the warm air flowing over it. As a result, the refrigerant gets too cold and starts to freeze.
Dirt buildup usually results from neglected maintenance or dusty ductwork. To keep the coil clean, schedule annual AC maintenance every spring. A technician will clean the evaporator coil, inspect the system, and make sure everything is running as it should. If the coil is already dirty, professional cleaning with the proper tools is the safest and most effective solution.
Poor Airflow
When your AC can’t breathe, performance goes downhill fast. Poor airflow prevents warm air from entering your home and cooling it down. Without warm air to flow over the evaporator coil, the refrigerant inside gets too cold, and the coil freezes over.
To keep the air flowing freely, plan to change your air filter every one to three months. If you have furry pets, check the filter even more often. Then, ensure all vents and returns are open and unblocked by furniture, rugs, or curtains. These small airflow improvements can make a big difference in preventing frozen air conditioner coils.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant is the key to air conditioning. When there’s not enough of it, the pressure in the system drops, lowering the evaporator coil’s temperature below freezing. Add summer humidity to the mix, and you have a recipe for ice-covered coils.
Low refrigerant usually means there’s a leak, and fixing it isn’t a do-it-yourself job. Handling refrigerant without proper certification is both dangerous and illegal. A licensed AC technician can locate and repair the leak, then recharge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant.
Thermostat Issues
The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system. If the temperature is set too low or the unit provides inaccurate readings, it may run longer than necessary. The extended runtime can cause the evaporator coil to drop below freezing, especially if the abovementioned issues are already at play.
Check the thermostat placement and settings. If the location is problematic, a technician can move it for more accurate readings. If the device is older or unresponsive, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat. An accurate thermostat ensures your system runs at the right times, avoiding overuse that leads to frozen coils.
Call Lancaster Plumbing & Heating for AC Services
A frozen AC unit should never be ignored. Regular AC maintenance in Lancaster, PA, can stop most freeze-ups in their tracks. If you already see ice where it shouldn’t be, it’s time for a professional inspection.
Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been keeping air conditioners running smoothly since 1904. Our licensed, NATE-certified technicians show up on time, treat your home respectfully, and fix the problem correctly the first time.
Contact us to schedule AC freeze-up repair you can count on.
