Why Does My AC Keep Freezing Up? | Top 5 Issues

During the summers, you rely on your air conditioning to maintain cool and comfortable interiors. However, this is not possible when your air conditioning runs into problems. One of the common AC problems is the unit freezing up. You can detect this when you notice frost on the copper tubing of the unit or on other components of the AC.

When you experience a freezing air conditioner, it is important to determine what is causing it. Before you do so, though, you need to turn off the AC so that the frost or ice that has formed upon it can melt. This can take some time. The following are some of the key reasons why your AC may be freezing up.

1. Low Refrigerant Levels

The refrigerant in your air conditioning often depends on the right pressure to function properly. During normal operation, water vapors may condense on the outside of the lines carrying the refrigerant. But when the pressure changes for some reason, the refrigerant may start to act abnormally. In such a case, the refrigerant may cause the air outside the line to condense and then freeze. You may not notice this immediately but with the passage of time, ice may form up both inside and outside the line. This will affect the flow of cool air to your interiors.

This problem can be resolved by having your refrigerant levels inspected and restored. You will need a professional Greenville heating and air contractor to do the job.

A frozen AC pump.

2. Poor Draining

The drain system in an air conditioning unit is meant to remove the condensed water from the AC. When this process doesn’t go on smoothly, water begins to gather up inside the AC unit. Drain problems can be caused when dirt or other forms of debris clog up the drainage system. It can also be a result of loose drain lines and pipes. Water leaking outside the drainage system or gathering up inside AC components can eventually freeze.

An easy cure for this is to routinely check the drain system of your AC. Make sure there are no leaks in the drainage pipes and the outlet is not clogged with dirt.

3. Poor Airflow

The flow of air around the air conditioning unit is important for its normal functioning. Airflow brings warm and moist air to the AC which is then conditioned. If the AC is not getting enough airflow, it will cause the unit to over-cool and lead to the freeze-up problem. The remedy for this is simple enough: make sure there is good airflow around the AC units.

4. Clogged Air Filter

An air filter is one of the most important components of your AC. It is tasked with blocking dust, dirt, and other airborne debris from entering your indoor air via the AC. However, air filters get clogged with dirt quickly and must be changed often. If that’s not done, they start to obstruct the airflow of the AC. Such obstruction causes the cooled air to stay inside AC lines for longer, causing condensation and eventually leading to frost or ice.

A simple solution for this is to maintain and implement a replacement schedule for your AC’s air filters. For most filters, this should be every 3 months or so. Most filters need to be replaced although some are washable and can be inserted back after washing.

5. Thermostat Settings

In many cases, freezing up AC is simply the result of a poorly configured thermostat. If you set your thermostat too low, the AC is going to blast chilled air which will inevitably lead to over-cooling and condensation. This can also result from running an AC at a sufficiently low temperature for long enough.

You can resolve this by ensuring that the thermostat is set not too low. If the AC has to be used for long periods on end, set up a schedule or use a programmable thermostat to turn it off on frequent intervals.

Hiring Reliable Greenville Heating and Air Contractors

If your AC has run into any problems, such as freezing up, you need the help of a professional HVAC contractor. As listed above, freezing AC units may be caused by a variety of reasons. A professional Greenville heating and air expert will thoroughly inspect your AC unit to determine the exact reason.

Here at General Air, we are one of the leading HVAC contractors in Greenville. Our experts are trained, equipped, and certified to handle AC troubleshooting, repairs, and installations. Contact us today to hire our services or get a free price estimate.