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A frozen air conditioner is common in Florida, even in the hot summer. HVAC problems can occur for many reasons, but in most cases there are a few common reasons why your AC line is frozen. Chances are that you discovered your frozen AC when you noticed that your ac is running but not cooling your home. So let's get started addressing the root of the problem.
We'll offer a few quick fixes for a frozen AC in this article, but it's important to get your AC system properly diagnosed by an HVAC technician. A frozen AC line is a symptom of a bigger problem. Left unsolved, it can lead to a more expensive HVAC repair down the road.
If your AC line is frozen right now and you are looking for the fastest solution, then turn off your AC immediately and set the thermostat to FAN mode. Once you've done that, come back and learn some steps you can take to investigate the reason your AC system is freezing.
Now that you've turned off your AC and have the fan running, let's talk for a second about the cause of the problem.
Causes For A Frozen AC
The main reason why your AC lines are freezing is because your evaporator coils are getting too cold.
The evaporator coil is filled with refrigerant which cools the air in your HVAC system. When things are working properly the evaporator absorbs the heat from your air and provides a cooling effect.
However, when there is a problem with your AC system, the heat exchange process can be restricted causing your evaporator coil to absorb less heat and produce ice on the coils. The ice can eventually accumulate on the refrigerant line. You'll start to notice that your AC is not cooling even though it's running.
Some common reasons that cause your AC lines to freeze are:
- Refrigerant leaks from evaporator coils
- Accumulation of dirt over the coils
- Blocked AC vents
- Clogged air filters
- Blower fan failure
- Collapsed air ducts
- Low refrigerant levels
Simple and Quick Ways To Eliminate AC Freezing
If your refrigerant lines are really frozen, it is time to wake up your inner mechanic and do a little troubleshooting yourself. Below are some solutions that you can try to fix your air conditioner.
While these things can help resolve the issue temporarily, if ice continues to accumulate on your air conditioning system, then you need to contact a professional HVAC company to diagnose the root cause.
1. Turn Off Your Air Conditioner and Switch To Fan Mode
This will give your air conditioner time to cool off while having warm air from your home circulating through the system. You can restart your system after waiting for 3-4 hours. If your air conditioner freezes when you turn it back on, then turn it off immediately and contact Pro-Tech for air conditioning service.
2. Check For A Dirty Air Filter
Clogged air filters can do a lot of damage to your HVAC system and can cause air conditioner freezing. Check your filter and change it if it appears dirty. A clogged filter reduces airflow which could be the root of the problem.
3. Check out for any blocked or closed return/supply vent
Supply vents are the vents that distribute cool air inside your house. Any closed supply vent can restrict the air flowing through your air conditioner and causing problems in the heat exchange process. Therefore, it is better if you open all the vents even in the unused rooms to thaw the frozen coils. Doing the same with the return vents will increase the flow of warm air over evaporator coils.
Serious Problems That Need Additional Investigation
If the DIY solutions do not help you out you need to call a professional air conditioning company to service your system. There are likely additional problems that you won't be able to resolve without the help of a professional.
Refrigerant leak
There may be a refrigerant leak present in your AC lines causing pressure levels to drop. Refrigerant is the liquid that extracts heat from your room and blows it out via the outdoor compressor. When the refrigerant levels are low, the pressure inside of your refrigerant lines gets out of whack, causing ice to accumulate. To know if there's a refrigerant leak present in your air conditioning unit, look out for the following:
- Warm air coming from the vents
- Your unit making a hissing or bubbling sound
- Higher electricity bills due to increased load on the air conditioner
Blower Motor Not Working Properly
If the blower motor is not working as it should, it will prevent the fan from drawing enough warm air inside the unit, causing the lines to accumulate ice. Check out for these to know if there's a problem with the motor.
- Blower fan spinning slower than usual
- Having trouble while starting
- Producing a humming sound
- Blowing no warm air outside
Torn or Collapsed Air Duct
When the air duct is collapsed, the flow of warm air to your evaporator coil is interrupted. As a result, your air conditioner's refrigerant lines freeze due to decreased temperature.
If your air conditioner is frozen due to the above-mentioned reasons, your unit needs to be serviced by an expert. No matter what you do, do not allow your system to continue running with ice accumulating on the refrigerant coils. Try the tips in this article and call for help if the problem keeps occurring.