What To Do If Your Cooling System Freezes Up | Air Comfort HVAC

It’s a common homeowner problem–your AC freezes up and just can’t keep your home cool. Air Comfort HVAC is always here to help, so let’s talk about what’s happening and get your cooling system working again.

When Your AC Unit Freezes Up
Turn the AC system off so it quits producing frost. You can adjust your thermostat to the heat setting to help speed up your thawing.
Watch the water levels in the AC unit as it thaws–for units with a drain pan inside the evaporator coil overflows, you might experience water damage if you’re not draining the water.

While you’re at it, save some green this summer!

Why does my AC freeze up?
One common reason is low refrigerant (R22). You might have a leak, a change in pressure, or even water damage.

Another common reason your AC could be freezing up is from poor air flow. Your cooling system needs heat from the warm air in your home to help prevent the condensation from turning into ice. Are you changing those air filters monthly? Are there any blocked ducts, closed or obstructed grates, or closed dampers in your house?

Dirty coils can also lead to a freezing AC system. Again, ice obstructs the proper airflow of your system — so what starts off as a little bit of frost can spiral out of control into a solid block of ice. Having a layer of dirt on top of the coils means they can’t absorb water as quickly as intended.

Finally, your AC system could freeze up due to a damaged blower fan. The fan can break or simply experience damage from long-term operation. An impaired blower fan will affect the entire system.

If you catch the problem early on, you might be able to handle the freezing issue yourself. However, if the freezing is happening due to dirty coils, or your system has water damage–give us a call to schedule an inspection.

Visit our website today to learn more about our services and enjoy a more cool and comfortable summer!