Steps to Take When Your AC Unit Freezes Up
Is your air conditioning system frozen? Air conditioners freezing during the summer are common, contrary to popular belief. Follow these steps to solve the problem.
Switch Off the Air Conditioner and Set Fan to Manual Mode
If the AC unit freezes, no matter how much ice has developed, it must always be turned off immediately. Use either the circuit breaker or the thermostat to switch off the air conditioning. Switch on the fan. While defrosting and drying, do not leave the fan on automatic mode. The air conditioner may take many hours or even days to defrost completely. Wait for it to be completely dry before restarting.
Examine the Efficiency of the Blower and Motor
During the defrosting procedure, the blower must work effectively. If it is inefficient, the AC unit will not get adequate air circulation. When this occurs, the equipment won’t suck in or release air and must constantly cool with the air it creates. Therefore, the freezing inside of your air conditioner could be caused by a broken blower. There must be enough warm air in the evaporator for the coils in your air conditioner to be cooled by contact with warm air.
Inspect the blower motor in the AC system. A heated motor must be replaced since some of its components have burnt. The control board may be faulty if the motor is not working. It may also be required to oil the motor and fan. Preventative maintenance may be able to remedy these issues.
Filters Should Be Cleaned or Changed
After checking the fan and motor, examine the air filters. The first step is to look for any damage or blockages in the air filter located between the compressor and the return duct. If dirt, ice, or dust is visible, clean the filters. Replace them if they’re beyond repair.
Examine the air filters in the home, whether on supply or return vents. Don’t forget to replace the air handler filter as well. The capacity of the vents to circulate air freely will be impeded by anything that stops them. The refrigerant within the evaporator won’t be able to pull enough heat from the warm air, and the unit will freeze.
Ensure That All Supply and Damper Vents Are Open
Then, ensure that the supply duct dampers are open. While inspecting the air filters, ensure that none of the supply vents are entirely or partly blocked. With care, inspect and open the vents in any unoccupied rooms.
Remove Blockages From Vents and Thoroughly Clean Ducts
There should be no obstructions in vents or ducts. Check the return vents in your home to see if any are blocked by clothes or furniture, which could stop air from going back into the HVAC system. Furthermore, dust and debris may have accumulated in the ducts and vents. Dust and debris build up in vents and ducts, which makes it hard for air to move through them.
Inspection and Cleaning of Condensate Drains and Lines
The condensate tube from your air conditioner to the outdoor drainpipe must be free of obstructions. A little reservoir on your HVAC system can fill up with water and debris if you don’t clean it out. This will cause additional water to freeze on the coils. Drain the condensate line to check for clogs. You will see continuous water trickling out as the frozen AC thaws. If you don’t have a leaky drainpipe, there could be a blocked-up condensate line that might lead to frost formation.
A pump is in your HVAC system’s little condensate reservoir. If the pipes are free of blockages, the pump might be broken. Additionally, water may pool on your garage or basement floor while defrosting. To keep the clutter at bay, utilize old carpets and blankets.
Examine and Clean the Air Conditioner’s Evaporator Coil
You may have opened the front board of your AC unit to check the evaporator chamber when you initially observed the freezing issue. When the ice melts, a filthy evaporator coil may be discovered. Evaporator chambers often get rusty and moldy, causing obstructions. Corrosion may be present in the evaporator chambers of older air conditioning machines. However, relatively fresh coils may rust if the device has been frozen and thawed frequently. An unexpected development of rust may also signal a refrigerant leak or a broken evaporator coil.
Contact a Licensed HVAC Professional to Repair Leaking Refrigerant
Low refrigerant levels often cause the internal freezing of an air conditioner. However, it would be best if you did not try to fill up the refrigerant or check for leakage. Refrigerants should only be handled by trained and certified HVAC professionals. If the metering mechanism in the coil is clogged or not performing properly, the unit’s inside may freeze. Therefore, if you haven’t discovered an issue yet, it’s usually something sophisticated enough to merit contacting an expert.
Contact Us Today
Over the last 40 years, Ken Parker Service, Inc. has been providing heating and cooling services to Rockwall and the nearby areas. Our certified specialists can meet all your HVAC demands at your home or place of business. It is our goal to help you improve the quality of the indoor air with reliable installation, maintenance, and repair services. Contact Ken Parker Service, Inc. today to schedule an appointment.
