It’s a hot summer day, and you notice that your air conditioner isn’t cooling the house down as well as it should. You investigate a bit, to see what’s wrong, and discover that the AC’s indoor evaporator is completely frozen.
Your first question might be: Why is my air conditioner frozen on the inside? There are two possible reasons. First, there may be limited airflow over the evaporator coils, and second, there may be a refrigerant leak. Luckily, there are ways to figure out what the issue is, but first, there are some steps you should take. Turn the AC off. Make sure the fan is on. Put towels around the inside portion of your unit, to soak up any water that may come out. This will allow your unit to thaw out.
Now what? Let’s take a closer look at the reasons this may have happened.
Low Airflow Over The Evaporator Coils
Air conditioners use cold refrigerant to absorb the heat and moisture in your home. The exchange between the warm and humid air and the cold refrigerant takes place at the evaporator coils or the part that is frozen. Warm air passes over the coils and gets absorbed by the coils in order to prevent freezing. If there is something restricting the airflow over the coils, the refrigerant can become too cold, leading to freezing over. Moisture will build up on the frozen coils until you have a frozen evaporator.
Causes of Low Airflow Dirty Filter
A dirty filter can restrict airflow, causing the evaporator coils to freeze up. This is an easy fix: Just replace the filter.
Blocked Air Vents: Air moves through ducts in your home, so it goes without saying that any issue with an air duct, such as a blockage, can wreak havoc on your air conditioning system. Even if everything else in the system is running well, a reduction or issue with airflow can lead to the freezing of the evaporator coils. Make sure furniture and drapes are away from the vents.
Closed Supply Vents: It’s important to keep all of the supply vents in your home open while you’re running the air conditioner, even the ones in rooms no one is using. If you’ve checked on those issues, and they don’t seem to be the problem, it could be improperly sized air ducts or dirty evaporator coils. You’ll need a professional for either of those issues.
Refrigerant Leak: Air conditioners need a certain amount of refrigerant in the system in order to work properly. Over time, however, wear and tear on the coils can lead to refrigerant leaks. If there’s not enough refrigerant in the coils, they can freeze over. You can check for a refrigerant leak by listening for a hissing sound. That’s a sign of a leak. A refrigerant leak has to be fixed by a licensed professional, because of the chemicals involved. A professional will be able to locate the leak and fix it.
Signs of Low AC Air Flow
Because low airflow makes your AC work harder and can lead to a frozen evaporator, it’s important to watch out for signs of low airflow in your home. Here are some things you should look out for:
Uneven cooling – One of the earliest signs of low airflow is uneven cooling. While some rooms in your home may be perfectly cool, others may be much warmer.
Warm air blowing out – If you feel warm air blowing out of the vents, that’s a sign that your air conditioner isn’t working properly.
No air – If your unit is running but no air is coming out of the vents, that’s another sign of a low airflow issue. You need to contact a professional to diagnose the issue.
How to Help Your Air Conditioner
Avoid a frozen Inside Coil Did you know that there are simple steps you can take to help your air conditioner avoid this issue?
The first step in avoiding a frozen inside coil is to ensure that your air filter is clean. Check your filter monthly and change it when necessary to keep the airflow unrestricted. Make sure you’re using a good quality filter that fits properly in order to maintain proper airflow. You should also ensure that all of your vents are free from obstructions, including furniture or drapes, as this can hinder airflow and cause the indoor coil to become too cold. Inspect your ductwork regularly for any leaks or blockages that could be reducing airflow.
Finally, schedule regular maintenance with a qualified technician to check your system and make sure that all components are in proper working order. During maintenance, the technician can also look for any potential issues that may lead to an overly cold indoor coil. By following the steps outlined above, you can help ensure that your air conditioner runs smoothly and effectively throughout the summer.
Call the air conditioning experts in Buffalo, MN
If your air conditioning system is giving off warm air, don’t panic. The professionals at DeZiel Heating & AC specialize in dissecting and determining what the issues are in your air conditioner and fixing them. We are happy to come out to your home or business and inspect your AC, keep you cool and get your system back up and running efficiently.
To learn more, call DeZiel Heating & AC today at (763) 200-5453 .
