Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Freezes Up


In the warmest summer months, the sun is beating down and it gets really, really hot. To keep us cool and comfortable, many of us would crank down the temperature; thus, pushing the air conditioner into overdrive.

Ice forming on your air conditioner can damage the unit. In addition, it will not cool your home properly. Because of this, it is important that you have it checked by a professional HVAC technician and see what might be causing your AC to freeze up.

Whether it’s a central air conditioner or a window AC unit, there are a number of reasons why your air conditioner freezes up. Let’s take a look at them.

Low outdoor temperature

Air conditioners are designed to run in a specific temperature range, preferably above 60° F. Ice starts forming in your air conditioner when it is being used while the outdoor temperature is low. Since most people run their AC unit round the clock during the summer, the unit fails to function properly during night time, when the temperature drops. This causes your AC to freeze up.

Low refrigerant levels

The refrigerant’s function is to collect warm air from your home and move it outside. But with everyday use and normal wear and tear, this causes the refrigerant to leak.

The pressure drops when your air conditioner is low on refrigerant. Low refrigerant levels can make the evaporator coil too cold. In this case, the temperature drops below freezing point. Eventually, a block of ice is formed around the evaporator coils and fins.

Insufficient air flow

When airflow is reduced or restricted, the exchange of thermal energy between the room and the air conditioner is restricted. When this happens, most of the cool air remains around the evaporator fins and coils; thus, causing the air conditioner to freeze up.

 

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