Frozen Air Conditioners: What They Really Are And How To Solve The Problem

Your AC may start to exhibit some concerning symptoms – especially after facing the boiling heat of a Texas summer day! One of the most common AC repairs is a frozen AC. If you’ve ever heard the term “frozen air conditioner”, you may be concerned that it will happen to your own unit, causing discomfort and danger in the heat of summer. Don’t panic!

Efficient Systems is well aware of the frozen AC phenomenon, and we want you to know what exactly causes this common AC repair. The quicker you can recognize your AC’s issues, the faster we can start the expert repair you need.

What Is A Frozen AC? 

A frozen air conditioner unit does not actually refer to ice covering the entire AC unit. However, extra moisture inside your unit can attach itself to the tubes that house refrigerant. This can cause frozen AC coils, which halt all cooling of your air until they are thawed and the refrigerant can move properly.

The best way to avoid this malfunction is to ensure that evaporator coil maintenance is completed in a seasonal AC tune-up. When your coils are cleared of grime, moisture can’t adhere to them and freeze.

Signs You Have Frozen AC Coils

You may not be completely sure what’s wrong with your AC when it starts behaving strangely, but here are some things to look out for that indicate frozen AC coils may be the problem:

• Warm air
• No air
• Moist air filters

If these signs appear in your home, contact an HVAC professional. They know how to thaw a frozen AC with efficiency and get your cooling back to normal.

Causes Of A Frozen AC

Dirty Air Filters

The air that runs through the air filters also runs inside your AC unit. If your air filters are full of contaminants, they can’t remove particles from the air. This means that dust and dirt can make their way into the unit and possibly adhere to the coils. This is a one-way ticket to frozen coils!

Refrigerant Leak

If a cracked or damaged tube allows the refrigerant to leak out, the levels of this cooling liquid will be thrown off. This means your air won’t be cooled and your coils are at a higher risk of freezing since the refrigerant isn’t moving where it should.

Condensate Line Clog

The condensate drain line is responsible for funneling out the moisture from your AC unit. If a blockage of dirt or algae forms, the water has nowhere to go but into the system. This can introduce moisture to the coils and cause frost. 

Mechanical Malfunction

The motor and fan inside the unit are supposed to push hot air away from the internal components. If these pieces are broken or not working properly, the refrigerant may not be able to change forms, cool properly or maintain the correct temperature. When the temperature fluctuates, coils can freeze.

Reliable Beaumont Air Conditioning Repair

When you suspect your AC has frozen coils, it’s best to have a professional take care of the problem. Most of the causes of frozen coils are other damaged pieces of your system that need to be repaired to prevent the freeze from occurring again. Let the team at Efficient Systems do what we do best. Contact us today for quality AC repairs!