Call Us Now (888) 856-4507 What Causes my Air Conditioner to Freeze Up? Why Air Conditioners Freeze Up There are many reasons why your AC unit may be freezing up. Air conditioners need proper airflow to keep the cold coil warm. Warm air from the home is needed for the coil to stay cold and keep the temperature above freezing. Without it, coils freeze before the condensed water can be drained away from the unit. Since dirty air filters and closed air registers can impede airflow, it’s a good idea check the air filter and make sure the registers are both clear and open. A freeze up can also be caused by low refrigerant and improper fan operation. Low refrigerant levels make the coils too cold, and a faulty fan prevents air from moving. Faulty thermostats and drainage problems are often causes of a freeze up. In the cooling process, an AC unit condenses water vapor into liquid that drains outside. If the coils are frozen, the ice will cause a blockage for the drain hole.

The AC still runs, but doesn’t properly cool the home and uses a lot more electricity. If you have a window AC unit, you can use a hairdryer to unfreeze the coil. It’s also a good idea to check the drainpipe for any blockages, such as debris and twigs. Keep in mind that running an air conditioner with frozen coils can lead to extensive damage of the compressor. This is the most expensive part of an AC unit, and it’s not a repair or replacement that you want to face. If you’re unable to fix the frozen coil problem yourself, it’s always best to call a certified technician. At Custom Air & Plumbing, we fix all types of HVAC problems for businesses and residents, including AC freeze-ups. We know that the summers in Bradenton FL can be quite warm and respond quickly for HVAC repair. As a matter of fact, our customers can call us any time or any day with our 24/7 emergency service. We’re always just a quick phone call away. As soon as you notify us, we will quickly dispatch a service technician.

Your indoor comfort is our top concern. We send our customers top-notch technicians. Our technicians are both factory trained and NATE certified. They also arrive equipped with cutting-edge tools for troubleshooting, diagnosing and repair. In addition to a expert repair, you can expect a 100 percent guarantee on all of our repair work.  Please contact us for more information on HVAC products, service and repair.A frozen air conditioner fails to cool your home properly. When the refrigerant inside an air conditioning system falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, humidity on the evaporator coil freezes. The coils become encased in ice, and the air conditioner fails to cool the home sufficiently. Homeowners can perform routine checks and maintenance, but trust electrical repairs, leaks, and replacement of faulty devices to the pros. Once you discover a frozen unit, turn off the system and turn on the blower to help thaw the evaporator coils. Feel the air coming out of the supply registers.

If it feels warm, the evaporator coils may be iced over. Turn off the air conditioner and open the access panel to the evaporator. The panel is located in different spots for different manufacturers, but are typically near the furnace system inside the home. Small hex-head screws hold the panel in place . In severe cases, the ice may be visible outside the unit. Examine the copper coils. ac units for warehouseIf they are encased in ice, the air conditioner is frozen. ac window unit repairDo not attempt to clear the ice by hand. air conditioner unit dimensionsThat could damage the air conditioner's components. Check the filters located either in the air conditioner’s plenum, or at the cold air return grate for the home. If the filters are dirty, replace them.

Look at the coils as well as the cooling fins around the evaporator. If they are coated with dirt, clean them using a soft plastic brush, such as a toothbrush, and a light touch. The fins may bend with too much pressure. Make sure all the air conditioning supply registers are open in each room the unit supplies with cold air. Blocked registers restrict air flow, which causes the temperature inside the evaporator to increase. Time the air conditioner cycle once it has thawed and you’ve turned the unit back on. It will cycle for a long time until the house reaches the thermostat setting, but should then shut off. If the unit continues to run, the electrical contactor in the outside portion of the unit may be damaged or its fuse may have blown. Call an HVAC service person to check the unit and make repairs. Call an HVAC service person after you’ve checked all the registers, coils, and filters. The unit may be leaking refrigerant, the replacement of which must be performed by a licensed repair person.

Things You Will Need Nut driver and sockets Air filter Soft plastic brush Warning References HVAC Parts Outlet: Troubleshooting a Frozen Evaporator CoilHorizon Services: Help! Photo Credits Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images Suggest a Correction 20,317 posts, read 15,073,405 times 25,901 posts, read 21,074,479 times When a central air conditioner freezes up, what actually freezes is the condensor unit's evaporator coil. This is the part of the air conditioning system that transfers (evaporates) heat from the inside to the outside of the home. There are two primary reasons the evaporator coil may freeze, it can either be due to 1) restricted air flow, or 2) lack of sufficient refrigerant. Either way, the result is that the air conditioner's evaporator coil cannot operate to properly dissipate heat, and in effect 'overcools' itself. The result of this super-cooling is condensation (that's water formation), and eventually ice from that condensation as it cools below the freezing point.