In the heat of another Santa Rosa summer, it’s so important to have a functioning CA unit.
There are countless things that can happen to your air conditioner throughout the year. From short cycling to leaking, it’s essential to perform regular maintenance so that you don’t have to make costly repairs, or worse, full AC replacement.
But, what if your AC coils are frozen?
The coils are the parts of your AC unit that absorb and release heat from your home, so you may be confused as to why they’re freezing. Today, we’ll explain why your AC coils freeze, how to fix the problem, and how to ensure it doesn’t happen every summer.
As soon as you notice frozen AC coils, it’s probably time to start thinking about hiring AC companies for help. Keep reading, however, and you’ll have a better sense of what to do about this tricky issue.
Why Your AC Coils Are Frozen
There are a few main reasons why your AC coils might freeze. Some of these issues can be rectified at home, while others may require professional attention.
Dirty Air Filters
As part of regular AC maintenance, you should be changing your HVAC filters every 90 days. As your air conditioner pushes air through your home, the air filters remove most of the harmful allergens and bacteria from the air. Eventually, they become too full of this debris and need to be changed.
If you don’t change them, not only is your air quality going to suffer, but your AC unit suffers as well. Clogged air filters restrict airflow, which causes the coils to cool and eventually freeze. You should always keep an eye on your filters and change them on a regular basis.
Fan Issues
You can have clean air filters, but your AC coils can still freeze if the air isn’t being pushed through the system properly. The fan on your AC unit is responsible for moving air throughout your home.
Whether there’s a motor issue or the blades are dirty, a restricted fan leaves your coils vulnerable to freezing. Make sure this is one of the first things you inspect when you notice frozen AC coils.
Blocked Condensate Lines
Your condensate lines drain the excess moisture created by the dispelling of humidity in your home. The moisture in the air becomes condensation, which flows through the line into a drain.
When this water runs into a block in the line, it can back up and begin to freeze around the evaporator coil. Blocked condensate lines can be fixed at home, but it’s a good idea to search, “heating and cooling near me” to find professional assistance.
Broken Thermostat
Your thermostat is essentially the brain of your HVAC unit. If it’s not working properly, it’ll give your AC system the wrong temperature information, which may cause it to do long runs and over-cool your home. When this goes unchecked, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with frozen AC coils.
Refrigerant Leaks
A leaking refrigerant line is horrible for the environment, but it also causes your AC unit to malfunction. Refrigerant is the chemical that goes through your AC coils, changing temperature as it absorbs the heat.
If you have a refrigerant deficiency because of a leak, the lines will freeze over, which will eventually cause your coils to freeze too. It’s important to get this fixed promptly.
Signs Your AC Coils Are Frozen
Sometimes it’s easy to detect frozen AC coils, but not always. It’s important to pay close attention to how your system is functioning and give it regular inspections so you notice the following:
You Can See the Ice
Obviously, the easiest way to tell if your AC coils are frozen is by seeing ice on them. This isn’t always easy to spot, especially in the summer heat when the ice could be melting as fast as it’s being created.
Take a close look at your coils, in particular when you notice other issues with your AC unit. Most of the time, other signs will crop up simultaneously.
Your AC Unit Isn’t Sending Cool Air
If you feel warm air coming from your AC unit while it’s running, there’s a really good chance you’ve got frozen coils. Basically, this means that one of the above issues has occurred and it needs further inspection by a professional HVAC service.
Air Conditioner Leaking
As mentioned above, summer can melt the ice forming on your AC coils. An air conditioner leaking could be the result of a variety of issues, including blocked lines, frozen coils, dirty filters, and a broken fan motor.
Troubleshooting Frozen AC Coils
The first place to start when you’ve got frozen AC coils is with the air filter. Inspect it for dirt and debris, clean it if it’s new, or replace an older filter to see if that fixes the issue.
If it’s your thermostat, try turning it off and turning just the fan on. This may push enough air over the indoor coil to unfreeze it, but you’ll need to leave the system like this for a few hours.
When you just want to melt the ice and inspect the system, turn your entire unit off and wait. You can also try using a hair dryer to expedite the process.
Once you’ve melted the ice, the best thing to do is search for “AC repair near me” and get an experienced HVAC professional to help.
Getting AC Repair Near Me
If your AC coils are frozen, your system won’t work as it should. In the warm Santa Rosa summer, you need your AC to function to maintain your indoor air quality. Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, so it’s untenable to have a non-functioning AC unit when it’s hot out.
To properly rectify your frozen coils, you need a dedicated professional. At Milano Mechanical, we offer HVAC services to homeowners in Placer County, Sacramento County, and the North Bay area. If you’ve got frozen AC coils, contact us and we’ll help get your AC functioning again promptly.
