Why Does Your Air Conditioner Keep Freezing Up?

If one minute you're enjoying the cool air from your AC unit, and the next you're experiencing poor airflow, and warm air to boot, then take a quick look at your air conditioning unit to see if the entire unit is frosted over on the inside.

What's going on? The best thing to do is call your HVAC specialist for AC repair, because this common air conditioning malady is often a cause of a faulty part within the unit, and you don't want to risk injuring yourself or damaging your air conditioner to repair it on your own. It helps to understand why your air conditioner keeps freezing up so you can prevent this from happening in the future, so here are common reasons why this might be happening.

The air filters are clogged

The air filters attached to your air conditioning unit keep the dirt, dander, hair, and pollen from going into the air and out the vents in your home. The filters also help to ventilate your air conditioning system so it operates as it should. If the air filters are clogged, then the system isn't getting proper airflow, which will lead to condensation build-up and quick freezing of the unit from the inside-out.

Discontinue operating your air conditioner once you notice a change in airflow and temperature of your unit or you see frost on the unit itself and call your air conditioning service to assist you. If the air filters are the only problem, cleaning or replacing them will help resolve your freezing issues.

The refrigerant lines are interrupted

If the refrigerant lines to your air conditioning unit are interrupted at all, including not working properly, being clogged, or otherwise clamped or blocked, your air conditioning won't work well and you can experience a freeze up in the unit. A refrigerant leak can also be a cause of this issue. Your AC repair specialist will diagnose and treat this problem so you can have your air conditioner operate normally again.

The air conditioner is constantly running

If your air conditioner is set to constantly run because its temperature is set too low or there's an abnormally hot day your unit's working against, then the unit can freeze up due to overuse. A simple fix is to change the temperature setting on your thermostat so your air conditioning can operate with a break now and then. Your air conditioning service specialist can show you how to safely operate your air conditioner for the best results.

To learn more, contact a local air conditioning service.