Every summer, your air conditioner works long hours to keep your home or office at a comfortably cool temperature. The last thing at such times you would expect to see on or within the AC is ice. Now, had it been the winter season, you would have conveniently blamed the frigid weather for the occurrence. Nonetheless, now that it is sweltering hot, the reason for the frozen air conditioner leaves you completely clueless. First and foremost, everyone should know that ice formation on the AC or its frozen appearance is a sign of a problem, and hence, it needs to be tackled.
Why Is Frozen Air Conditioner A Problem
Ice, when it melts, converts into the water and it will melt because it is summer. This water will drip down into the various components of the air conditioner and cause malfunctions or short circuits. Water and electrical appliances are not a good mix. If the circuit breaker fails to trip, the resultant short circuit can lead to a fire hazard.
Reasons For Ice Formation And Their Solutions
To begin with, if you notice ice formation on your air conditioner, it’s better to call our air experts at +1-888-729-8452. Our technicians are the best. They will check out your unit thoroughly to ensure that every possibility is checked. With the best advice out of the way, here is a list of possible reasons for the ice formation and the correct way to manage it.
1. Dirty Air Filters – Time after time, we request homeowners to ensure that the air filters are replaced regularly. Sadly, not many follow the routine. When the air filter gets clogged, it prevents the free movement of air. As a result, with limited air passing over the cold coils, the moisture in the air turns to ice. Had the airflow been free of restrictions, the process of extracting moisture would be continuous, and the temperature of the refrigerant would not fall enough to cause freezing of moisture. In turn, the collected moisture would have dripped down into the drip tray and from there drained out through the drain pipe.
Solution – The solution is plain and simple. Replace the air filters once a month.
1. Low Refrigerant Level – Another reason for the icing up of the air conditioner is the low refrigerant level. Cracks and holes in the evaporator coil are often the cause of a refrigerant leak. When its level falls below the prescribed amount, the evaporator coil fails to extract as much heat from the passing air. As a result, the coils freeze, and your home feels hot, stuffy, and clammy.
Solution – Handling a refrigerant leak is not a DIY job. It is a job for the professionals. The HVAC technician will first identify the source of the leak and plug it. Thereafter, he will top the refrigerant to the prescribed level. Once that is done, your AC will not freeze up again, at least not because of this issue.
1. Dirty Coils – Any surface through which the air passes is prone to the accumulation of dust. The same is true for the cooling system. When a layer of dirt covers the evaporator coil, it can cause freezing of the air conditioner. Let us briefly understand why that happens. The layer of dirt prevents the evaporator coil from extracting heat from the air. The little amount that it does manage to draw away freezes to the extremely low temperature of the refrigerant. As a result, the ice keeps on building over the coils.
Solution – Only a trained technician can clean the evaporator coil. If your coil is indeed dirty, which it shouldn’t be if you follow the preventive maintenance routine, call your HVAC technician. Typically, the task of cleaning the coils is completed during the maintenance, so ensure that you don’t skip any.
1. Malfunctioning Blower Motor – If the blower motor has a fault, it will not allow the free movement of air. Without adequate airflow, the temperature will again fall, and the same sequence of events will take place as discussed above, leading to a frozen air conditioner.
Solution – Since it’s a motor issue, it is a matter of expert handling. You will need the help of an HVAC technician to figure out what is wrong with the motor. If it is loose wiring, they can tighten them, and if it’s something more drastic, the motor may need to be replaced.
1. Old And Outdated AC – When technology becomes obsolete, it becomes difficult to find spares and maintain them. The same happens with the cooling systems. Wear and tear over the years and lack of necessary spares can cause problems that may result in your air conditioner freezing.
Solution – The only solution to old and obsolete technology is replacing it with a new and current system. Get rid of your old cooling system and buy a new one.
Never Skip Preventive Maintenance
Please do not commit the folly of skipping the annual maintenance of your air conditioner. The tune-up will keep your system in top working order and good shape and address all problems that contribute to its freezing. Think of it this way; your AC runs non-stop to provide you comfort. What will you do if it stops working suddenly at the peak of the season? Can you live with the discomfort? Obviously not. So the preventive maintenance is a small price to pay, considering it ensures that your unit does not go kaput on you suddenly.
If you live in West Palm Beach, Florida, there’s good news for you. You needn’t look further than Aztil Air Conditioning for complete HVAC solutions. We are a 100+ strong team of certified technicians who cater to all the demands of your heating and cooling system. Straight from installations and repairs to maintenance and providing air quality solutions, we do it all. Our affordable services will save the day for you. To book an appointment, give us a call at +1-888-729-8452.
