Coolness in an air conditioner is a good thing. But if an A/C is freezing up entirely, something’s wrong somewhere. The air conditioning process concerns heat: absorbing it, transferring it and dispersing it. The first two functions, heat absorption and transferral, involve the evaporator coil. It’s ground zero for heat exchange and when an A/C is freezing up it’s usually due to something awry in the evaporator.
An A/C freeze-up is no minor matter. It can totally block airflow through the system causing expensive components like the compressor to run nonstop and inflicting extreme wear and tear. Also, the block of ice created when an A/C is freezing up must eventually melt. If it leaks outside the unit, major property damage can result. Here are a few things to investigate if your A/C is freezing up.
Low refrigerant. It seems counterintuitive, but insufficient amounts of this frigid, vaporous substance can actually make the evaporator coil temperature drop too far. When this happens, condensation begins freezing in layers and a major icing event occurs. Low refrigerant levels are almost always due to a leak.
Low airflow. The evaporator coil needs a specified volume of warm air flowing over it at all times to keep its temperature from going sub-freezing. If it doesn’t get it, coil condensation turns to frost, then to solid ice, reducing airflow even further and exacerbating the icing problem. A clogged filter is a common cause of low airflow. However, leaky ducts and insufficient return air may also contribute.
No blower action. A defective blower or one improperly wired may not be circulating any air, or enough to match the output settings of the A/C. Lower the thermostat setting and listen for the whoosh of air movement from the air handler when the A/C activates. If you don’t hear it, call your HVAC contractor.
James Lane Air Conditioning has served Wichita Falls and surrounding communities since 1957 with dedicated HVAC sales and service. Whether an A/C is freezing up or you’re considering upgrading to a new high-efficiency unit, we’re here with a quick response and guaranteed satisfaction.
