Reasons and What to Do if Your Air Conditioner Is Freezing Up

In Florida, a working air conditioner is a must-have. If your air conditioner is freezing up, it’s essential to know why it’s happening and how you can resolve it quickly. When you need information on Tampa emergency AC repair, call AirZone Air Conditioning & Heating in Oldsmar, FL at (813) 750-0191. In the meantime, here are seven reasons air conditioners freeze up and what to do if your air conditioner is freezing up. 

1. Air Flow Issues

Problems with airflow are one of the most common causes of a frozen air conditioner. Dirty air filters reduce airflow significantly, and the subsequent poor airflow reduces cooling effectiveness and can cause AC freezing when condensation settles on the evaporator coils. 

A study on the effectiveness of air filters in preventing respiratory allergies found that dirty air filters contaminate the air with fungal spores that continue to grow and spread throughout the indoor environment. Swapping your dirty air filter with a clean one is an easy way to improve airflow issues and your indoor air quality immediately. 

A clean air filter also allows the maximum amount of airflow so that moisture doesn’t have time to collect and freeze inside the unit. Other airflow issues that contribute to your air conditioner freezing up include: 

• Blocked air vents
• Damaged air ducts
• Mechanical problems

2. Inadequate Power

Air conditioners require a significant amount of electricity to cool your home. Even with energy-efficient models, they still have considerable power demands, especially larger units. If your heating and cooling system isn’t receiving adequate power, the inactivity of moving parts could lead to freeze-ups. 

Likewise, you may run into the opposite problem where your AC won’t shut off. Be sure that your AC unit is large enough to cool your home and that your electrical demands aren’t too low or too high for the system to run properly. It’s also helpful to learn why your AC won’t shut off. 

3. Malfunctioning Blower Motor

When your air conditioner’s blower motor malfunctions, the fan no longer has the power to force warm air over the evaporator coil and cool it before it reaches air vents. The warm air collecting inside the unit creates condensation, which freezes on the coil. 

In this situation, it’s best to check the blower motor and AC fan to ensure no strange noises are coming from these components and there are no obstructions inside, resulting in reduced airflow through the unit. You may be able to remove obstructions yourself, but mechanical problems typically require repairs and assistance that only an HVAC professional can provide. 

4. Blocked Coils

In addition to ice on the evaporator coil blocking it from cooling air effectively, dust can also block it, and humidity can freeze over the dust. If you haven’t scheduled AC maintenance in quite some time, your coils may be clogged, causing your AC unit to freeze up. 

Keeping up with regular maintenance and cleaning your evaporator coil can help you avoid future freezing problems from blockages in the future. 

5. Air Duct Problems

Leaky or blocked air ducts can also contribute to your air conditioner freezing up. When air can’t pass through ducts correctly due to obstructions, or if it escapes before reaching the proper air vents, your airflow may be especially weak, creating an excess of warm air in the air handler that freezes to the refrigerant coils. 

You may be able to check for dust and other physical obstructions near air vents, but that’s often not enough to reduce air duct problems. A professional HVAC technician can inspect and repair leaky ducts and remove blockages from debris, dust, and pests to prevent your air conditioner from freezing again. 

6. Refrigerant Leaks

Your AC system’s compressor uses refrigerant to cool air before sending it back inside your home. Refrigerant leaks and low refrigerant issues cause the pressure in the outdoor compressor to drop, leading to lower temperatures throughout the indoor unit’s evaporator coils. Moisture in the air then sticks to the coils and freezes. 

To resolve an issue like this, you should contact a local HVAC professional. While it may seem simple to fix a refrigerant leak, pinpointing the problem area requires a thorough inspection. AC refrigerant (Freon in most cases) is also toxic, and repairs should only be completed by a trained HVAC technician. Professionals have the tools to find these leaks and make repairs correctly and safely. 

7. Unseasonably Cold Temperatures

While South Florida’s climate is sweltering in the summer months, it’s not rare for there to be an unseasonably cold night sometime during the year. 

Air conditioners only run when your indoor environment reaches a specific temperature, so unexpected low temperatures can come as a surprise both to you and your AC unit. Unseasonably cold temperatures during warm seasons can change how your air conditioner runs, causing it to freeze. 

Make sure your air conditioner has temperature control settings so you can change them to meet your cooling needs before indoor components freeze. If your unit doesn’t feature a programmable thermostat, putting a fan in your window to push out warm air and draw cool air in can be especially helpful in regulating indoor temperatures on cool nights. 

Seek Professional Services to Combat Air Conditioners Freezing

If your air conditioner is freezing up, you need a timely repair service that knows how to handle air conditioning emergencies. Contacting the experts at AirZone Air Conditioning & Heating is especially helpful when you need to navigate and resolve the results of a frozen air conditioner and prevent future issues from reoccurring. Call (813) 750-0191 to learn more about AC repair by AirZone Tampa Bay today.