Keeping Your Air Conditioning Working All Summer Long

« Back to Home

3 Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Is Freezing Up

Posted on

Your air conditioning unit could be freezing up for several reasons. These units continuously need an uninterrupted flow of air to function correctly. The main idea here is to maintain the temperature of the coil. Ideally, the warm air is supposed to come from your home to keep the coil temperatures above the freezing limit. 

Failure to do so means that the coils will freeze even before the water drains off. The best way to keep this from happening is to have your HVAC professional perform regular checks on the AC's refrigerant. Most times, it could be leaking or be insufficient for cooling. So, if you're wondering why your air conditioning unit keeps freezing up, here's why.   

1. Low Levels of Refrigerant Fluid

The amount of refrigerant in your AC unit is a vital factor in the pressure in your system. The compressor essentially keeps the refrigerant at high pressure so that it can absorb heat in the home. After the warm air is absorbed, the refrigerant now takes up a gaseous form and decreases in pressure. 

The compressor will directly act on the gas, turning it back to its liquid form. If the refrigerant isn't enough, it turns to gas much earlier than expected. There is no longer enough pressure to absorb the heat, which means that there will be more ice on the AC unit. Your air conditioning repair technician will have to add more fluid to keep your system in top condition. 

2. A Lack of Proper Air Flow 

As mentioned earlier, warm air from your home is needed to reduce condensation and freezing on the AC coils. The flow of air needs to be uninterrupted for this to be successful. 

Dirt in the vents might be an obstacle which is why your air conditioning repair technician will recommend that you change your air filters regularly. However, that might not be the solution to the limited airflow. In this case, the technician will inspect all the vents to identify any blocked sections. 

3. A Faulty Blower Fan 

If your blower fan malfunctions, your AC unit may have to endure immense strain to remain in working condition. However, there won't be a sufficient flow of air to prevent the coils from freezing. 

The fan works to ensure that there is enough air around the coil for better AC output. You could have your HVAC technician look at the fan to ensure that it isn't obsolete and that the motor isn't broken. They will then proceed to check on its speed of rotation as well as the rotational direction.  

For more information about air conditioning services like those listed above, contact a local HVAC company.


Share