Why Does my Air Conditioning Coil Keep Freezing Up? Your air conditioning unit is a complex series of mechanical parts that is designed to keep you cool during the warm seasons. If the evaporator coil keeps freezing up, though, this indicates that there could be a serious issue. Find out what the coil is, why it freezes up and what you can do to fix it. What is the Evaporator Coil? The air conditioning coil, which is called the evaporator coil, is essentially the most important part of your unit. It is constructed of aluminum fins bonded to internally grooved aluminum tubing. As the warm air in your home passes over these coils, the heat is removed from the air and cooler air is filtered into your home via the system. The evaporator coil works directly alongside the condenser; the evaporator coil removes the humidity from the air and the condenser condenses this humidity into water for elimination. As a homeowner, it is likely that you don’t notice a problem with your air conditioning system until it runs continuously or not at all, the air in your home is too warm, or the airflow coming through your vents is significantly reduced.

One of the main causes of reduced airflow is a frozen evaporator coil. The coil itself is typically located inside the air handling unit in your home. If air cannot flow through it freely due to a buildup of ice, then the air that is processed by the system lowers in volume and this becomes noticeable as your home gradually gets warmer. Causes for a Frozen Evaporator Coil There are two primary things that can cause your evaporator coil to freeze. The first is a lack of airflow across the coil in general. Remember that there is refrigerant flowing through the copper or steel tubing that is designed to remove the humidity from your home. If there is no humidity to remove, or even if airflow is blocked for some reason, ice will begin to develop. Second, your coil can freeze if there is a problem in the refrigeration system itself. Air conditioning units with a low level of refrigerant can freeze, and if this is the case, your unit will need servicing. The good news, though, is that you can generally defrost your evaporator coil at home with a bit of patience.

First and foremost, if you notice that your air conditioner is frozen, simply turn it off. Now, you won’t want to defrost it too quickly because it could overload the condensate drain and cause water damage. In order to defrost it slowly, go to your thermostat and move the fan switch from ‘Auto’ to ‘On’. different types of flexible ac transmission systemThis will force the warmer air in your home over the ice to defrost it. home ac unit making noiseYou should never be tempted to use a blow dryer or a heating pad as this will cause the ice to melt far too quickly.largest ac window unit If these steps resolve your air conditioning issue, then you can turn the unit back on and allow it to run as normal. However, you should call in a trusted A/C company to do an annual maintenance on the system and check to see what is causing the problem.

Posted in Air Conditioning FAQs and tagged air conditioner, coils, evaporator coil, freezing, freezing up, maintenance. AC Installation & Replacement “What a great team of professionals you have! I would like to take this opportunity to highly commend your Team... for the first rate installation of our A/C unit.” “My husband told me what he read on the side of the REM van: ‘This is the Rheem Team – and we will impress you’… “Since your crew worked on my air conditioner my house is so changed. The air is so clean and fresh smelling… I am able to have a comfortable temperature through out...” “You are to be commended not only for you skill and methodical approach in getting the work done well and speedily, but also for your wise selection of high caliber workmen. We are enjoying the system very much, and you can rest assured that we will recommend you and your company highly to anyone contemplating the installation of central heat and air.”

One common problem that many homeowners encounter during the colder months is a frozen heat pump. In order to understand why a heat pump freezes, one doesn’t need to be an HVAC expert. Here are some common reasons why a heat pump freezes and what you can do about it. During the summer time and periods of warm weather, a heat pump functions just like any other air conditioning system. Once the cold weather arrives, the heat pump starts to transfer energy from the outside of your home to the inside by altering the flow of coolant in the system. The energy is used to heat your home when it is cold outside. A heat pump is best suited for temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperatures drop below that mark, ice starts to form on the coils, refrigerant lines, and condenser of the unit. Many heat pumps have a defrost option that one can use to help keep freezing from occurring when the temperatures occasionally dip too low. Frequent and prolonged exposure to low temperatures will damage the heat pump and bring about the need for costly repairs or replacement.

Freezing is more likely to occur when refrigerant or coolant levels are low. During the fall and winter seasons, it is extremely important for homeowners to be diligent about checking their heat pump’s refrigerant or coolant levels. These levels need to be close to perfect in order to ensure proper operation of the unit when there is extremely cold weather. Homeowners should hire an HVAC professional to check the refrigerant levels in their heat pump and have them filled when necessary. Sometimes there may be problems with installation that may not arise until the temperatures start to drop. Some problems will reduce the amount of airflow to the pump and cause it to freeze. Other installation problems that can cause a heat pump to freeze are improperly sized coils, refrigerant lines, or even having a heat pump that is too big or too small for the home. An HVAC inspection will confirm if a homeowner has a properly installed heat pump and whether there will be any problems with its operation.

Coils that are blocked or dirty will cause a heat pump to work harder, leading to higher energy bills. In many cases, dirt and clogged coils will also affect the efficiency of the heat pump since the motor will eventually burn out much faster. More heat escapes from dirty and clogged coils instead of being transferred into the home to increase comfort. A heat pump that is not able to drain properly will freeze very quickly as the weather gets colder. To prevent problems with drainage, watch the unit for signs of dripping and leaking. Play close attention to where the moisture and condensation drain too. Make sure that the system is not sitting in any water, snow, or other substances that can interfere with operations. Exposure to freezing rain, snow or cold temperatures for long periods of time will reduce the efficiency of any heat pump will cause it to freeze from the outside and render the unit useless. Make sure that the entire air conditioning system and heat pump are situated on a platform that keeps it from being covered with snow, water and debris.