Your home’s central air conditioner is working hard during the summer months to keep your family nice and cool. It is possible for your air conditioner to become overworked and actually restrict the airflow to your home. Even with the warm temperatures outside, your air conditioner can actually become frozen. If this has happened to your air conditioner, don’t panic. Keep reading to find out why it has happened and if you should schedule air conditioner service to deal with the situation.
If your air conditioner ices over, the culprit is the evaporator coil within the condenser unit. There are two likely reasons the coil may freeze. First, the airflow through the coil is restricted. The air conditioner is trying to push more cold air through the condenser than it can handle. Frost starts to accumulate on the system and slow the process even more. Eventually the frozen water may cause damage to the key parts of your AC.
If this is not the cause, a frozen AC may be due to a lack of refrigerant. There isn’t enough “juice” to completely transport the air through the coil. The coil and the parts around it start to freeze up, giving your air conditioner a layer of ice and stopping your home from receiving the cool air it needs.
If your air conditioner has stopped cooling properly and shows visible signs of frost or ice, don’t worry. Follow these simple steps and your home will be comfortable and cool again in no time.
- Go to the thermostat and turn off your air conditioner all the way.
- Look at other areas of your system through which air flows to make sure air is not restricted. Make sure your air filters are clean and all the vents are free of debris.
- Call an experienced HVAC technician and set up an air conditioner service. Whether your air conditioner is low on refrigerant or the evaporator coil is restricted, this is a problem that should be addressed by a professional. The technicians will be able to make a quick and accurate diagnosis of the particular problem with your system and let you know what kind of air conditioner service you will need to remedy the problem.
