5 Common Reasons That Your Air Conditioning Is Freezing Over

It’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Take, for example, your air conditioning. When it’s sweltering outside, you want your AC to be pumping out cold, refreshing air. But can the system get too cold? Yes, and the results are not ideal.

A frozen air conditioning can bring the system to a halt and leave you hot and sweaty inside your home. So what causes an AC to freeze over, and what can you do about it? Allow us to explain.

Why the air conditioning can freeze

Air conditioning doesn’t create lower temperatures just out of thin air. Instead, it moves heat energy from one place (inside) to another (outside). To do this, it uses a refrigerant that absorbs heat from the air, then uses pressure to pump that refrigerant to the outdoor unit where the heat is released. What returns back into the home is colder refrigerant. A blower then distributes the cooler air around the home.

The problem with freezing can occur when the refrigerant is not circulating properly. If the cold refrigerant gets stuck, it can lead to the coils freezing. This can happen to either the indoor or outdoor unit. And when the coils freeze, that means heat is getting trapped inside or the AC isn’t able to distribute cold air. In other words, your house will get hot.

Problems that cause the AC coils to freeze

There are a number of issues that can result in frozen AC coils. Some you could troubleshoot on your own while others should be left to an HVAC professional to solve.

  1. Dirty, clogged air filter – Make sure you replace the air filter at proper intervals to ensure proper airflow of the indoor unit.
  2. Refrigerant leak – AC refrigerant is a closed-loop system, so the majority of times there’s a low level, it’s due to a leak. An HVAC professional can find the leak and add the right amount of refrigerant back to the system. 
  3. Problem with the blower fan – If the fan isn’t working properly, the cold air can’t move and gets trapped. Blower fans can wear out over time. An HVAC professional can determine whether it can be cleaned or needs to be replaced.
  4. Damaged refrigerant line. If the line is interrupted or kinked, the refrigerant won’t flow as smooth as it needs to.
  5. Unit running when the outdoor temperature is low. If there’s a problem with the thermostat, it could force the AC to run when it’s not needed, which can damage the system.

Air conditioning repair in Fredericksburg

If your AC coils are frozen, it’s important to fix the issue ASAP to avoid a major problem or breakdown with your air conditioning. At Robert B. Payne, Inc., our experienced technicians can get your AC back to running the way it should. To schedule a repair appointment, call (540) 373-5876 today.