A frozen air conditioner is almost always the first sign of weak airflow through the evaporator coil or inadequate refrigerant in your system. This coil sits inside the air handler and circulates the refrigerant that removes the heat from your home. Your home becomes warmer, even as the system continues to run.
The best way to avoid a frozen coil is through routine maintenance from an HVAC contractor and keeping the air filter clean. The coil is more likely to freeze during hotter weather, since the air conditioner or heat pump has to run longer and more frequently.
Clogged Air Filter
As dust builds on the air filter, the airflow slows through and over the evaporator coil and the refrigerant inside the coil stays cold too long. Ice or frost forms on the coil to the point where no air can reach the coil. As it freezes, your home becomes warmer and if the air handler is equipped with a safety switch, the system will turn off.
If you’re not sure about how or when to change it, or the best filter for your home, ask your HVAC contractor. The best filter for your system cuts energy consumption and increases its lifetime.
Deposits on the Evaporator Coil
Anything that covers the evaporator coil will insulate it, whether it’s dust, mold, or a bacterial film. When you haven’t had your system serviced for a few seasons and have a frozen air conditioner, a trusted HVAC technician can clean the coil and suggest ways to solve mold and bacterial growth on the coil.
Low Refrigerant
Running your system with low refrigerant can prompt a frozen coil. The only way to find the level is by having an HVAC pro measure it. Although it’s uncommon, refrigerant can leak out of the system, or it may not have been filled to the manufacturer’s specified level when the equipment was originally installed.
Taking steps to avoid a frozen air conditioner assures your comfort and preserves the life of your system. If you’d like more information, contact CCAC, providing trusted HVAC services for Coastal Bend homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioner freezing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “GSPhotography/Shutterstock”
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