What to Do When Your AC Unit Freezes Up

It can be frustrating to deal with a frozen AC unit, especially when it’s hot outside. Watching your air conditioner form a block of ice around it could leave you perplexed, but it’s not as uncommon as it might seem. Air conditioners are complicated systems that make use of many components. Any time a malfunction occurs in a part, it could create frozen coils or other problems.

Today, we’ll be looking at what causes this issue and how you can handle it if you notice it on your own AC unit.

Components Inside an Air Conditioner

It might seem that all air conditioners do is blow cold air into a home. However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Instead, air conditioners take the warm air from inside and move it outside. You can think of it like a refrigerator but on a much more substantial scale.

There are several coils inside an air conditioner, each of which is filled with refrigerants. The coils move for a closed-loop system that is composed of the evaporator coil, compressor, and condenser.

The evaporator coil is where the warm air is drawn in and circulates over the coil. The refrigerant absorbs the heat and turns into gas. Then, the compressor turns up the temperature of the gas before it makes it to the condenser. This is where the heat is moved outside, and the refrigerant turns back into liquid.

Causes of AC Freezing

If your AC unit is freezing up, it’s often due to an issue where the function of the evaporator coil has been lessened. When this occurs, the refrigerant cools more than it is supposed to which leads to ice. The most common reasons this occurs include:

• Blocked airflow – When airflow can’t get out, usually due to clogged or dirty air filters, the cooling process is hindered, and the coil might start to freeze up.
• Refrigerant leaks or mechanical issues –Malfunctions like refrigerant leaks, clogged filters, and fan failures can cause issues with the AC operation, which can make the refrigerant continuously expand and freeze the coils.

How to Handle AC Freezing

If you notice your air conditioner is frozen, there are several things you can do to avoid additional damage. Follow the steps below for the best results.

First, turn off your AC and let the ice completely melt. Avoid breaking the ice or trying to speed up the process since this could damage the air conditioner.

Next, find the reason that the freezing is occurring, whether that’s a mechanical issue or dirty filters. Take care of whatever is wrong.

Finally, if you aren’t sure how to handle the process, reach out to a professional HVAC technician who can diagnose and repair your air conditioner.

Speak with a Professional When Your AC Freezes Up

You can trust the pros at Elite Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning for all your HVAC needs. Whether you need repairs or maintenance, we’ll provide you with the services you need. Reach out to us today about your AC freezing or any other issues you might experience.