Air Conditioner Freezing? Here’s How To Deal With It
Ice on and around your outdoor AC unit may surprise you, especially if it’s a hot sweltering day during the middle of the summer. And noticing this bizarre incident may not take you long to understand there’s something wrong with your AC unit.
While you may think something like this is impossible during hottest days of the year, frozen air conditioners are actually a common problem. Sometimes a frozen AC necessitates calling for air conditioning repair services; other times, you might be able to fix it yourself.
Thorough maintenance is incredibly important for a well-working air conditioning system. An annual tune-up a year or once in 6 months can help you enjoy better indoor comfort.
With that said, let’s first check out what causes your air conditioning unit to freeze, followed by how you can unfreeze it.
What Causes Your AC To Freeze Up?
Before you start dealing with a frozen air conditioner, you must understand what causes the freeze in the first place.
Below are some major reasons that cause your air conditioner to freeze.
- Clogged Air Filters
If the air filters have accumulated too much dirt or debris, it blocks the flow of warm indoor air. When warm air from your unit’s coils is blocked, the coils become too cold and eventually start to freeze. So make sure you replace air filters every month to prevent such problems.
- Dirty coils
When air in your home travels through ducts, it carries dust, dirt, and hair. Most of it is caught and collected by your filter, but not all of it. And over time, these contaminants cake the coils with dirt and grime. This leads to the airflow being restricted, causing your AC to freeze.
That’s why it’s important to have timely maintenance checks by a professional.
- Collapsed Duct System
Ducts are the passageway to air. Even if the rest of the system is running smoothly, a collapsed or blocked air duct in your home can impede the airflow, which leads to your AC freezing up.
Having discussed the causes of your air conditioning freezing up, let’s look at some ways how you can unfreeze it.
Ways To Unfreeze Your Air Conditioning System
If you think you may have a frozen outdoor AC, you can take simple steps to get things back up and running again.
- Turn Off Your AC Unit
The first involves turning off your air conditioner using the thermostat. This will stop the cooling. Now switch your AC to ‘fan only.’ It will help blow warm air onto the coil, speeding up the defrosting process.
- Frequent Repairs
Sometimes, cooling systems don’t just break down all at once. Instead, they may function off and on. If you have had your air conditioner serviced three or four times over the past few months, it’s probably a sign that your system is nearing its end.
After all, paying for repairs has no value if they only prolong the unit’s life for short periods. While it’s understandable that it’s not always in the budget to replace a system, if your old unit is working only because of repairs, it is more economical to go ahead with the replacement.
- Thaw
Now give the evaporator line some time to thaw. Don’t, under any circumstances, attempt to chip away the ice with a sharp object. It could damage sensitive cooling components. Once the ice has melted, clean the entire unit with dry clothes.
- Replace The Air Filters
As we discussed above, insufficient airflow is the main reason for your AC to freeze up. So, after you’re finished with the defrosting process, check your air filters and see if they need replacing.
And lastly,
- Turn Your Air Conditioning On Again
Run your system normally and keep an eye on it. If airflow continues to be a problem – even with a new filter and open-air vents throughout the house, then, chances are, you may be dealing with a bigger issue and require the services of an HVAC maintenance technician.
To Conclude
Having a frozen AC is a very common problem homeowners face. However, these problems are preventable with timely maintenance and tune-ups. Keep your eyes open for warning signs that may show your AC is malfunctioning, and when you do notice something, act quickly, or the problem will worsen.
Facing such troubles, or need to schedule a preventive tune-up for your air conditioning system? Get in touch with companies like Bob’s Climate Control and get an estimate today!
Air conditioning system repairs and maintenance are critical for your comfort and safety. As a result, it’s vital to spot the warning indicators mentioned above early on before they become major issues.
Are you in need of a full-fledged air conditioning repair service? Consider getting in touch with companies like Bob’s Climate Control. Their fully trained and equipped HVAC professionals will resolve all the cooling issues in your home. Schedule an appointment today!