North Carolina can experience significant heat waves with temperatures in the 90s and humidity levels above 70%. That’s why an AC breakdown is a serious issue.
If you’re attempting to cool your home this summer and have little to no cooling power, you may have a frozen AC. This happens when your system becomes too cold, causing ice to form on the evaporator coil.
In this blog post, the HVAC experts at Comfort First Heating & Cooling discuss why an AC may freeze up and offer tips on how to fix this issue and prevent it altogether.
Common Causes of a Freezing AC Unit
A frozen system is one of many common air conditioner issues. There are several underlying issues that can cause this:
- Low refrigerant levels: Insufficient refrigerant can drop coil temperatures below freezing, causing ice to form.
- Dirty air filters: Restricted airflow can cause coils to get too cold and lead to freezing.
- Thermostat issues: If your thermostat isn’t working properly, your system can run too long, allowing the temperature to drop too low.
- Mechanical problems: Issues like stuck expansion valves or faulty blower motors can disrupt refrigerant flow or airflow, resulting in ice.
Signs Your Air Conditioner Is Freezing Up
There are many signs that your AC is freezing up, including:
- Ice buildup on indoor or outdoor coils
- Reduced airflow from vents
- Warm air when the thermostat is set to cool
- Water around the indoor unit
- AC turning on and off more frequently than normal
How to Fix a Freezing Air Conditioner
The steps to restoring a frozen AC system are fairly simple:
- Turn the thermostat system setting from cool to off.
- Turn the thermostat fan setting from auto to on.
- Allow your air conditioner to thaw for a few hours.
- Check your air filters and replace them if they’re dirty.
- Turn the AC back on once it’s fully thawed.
- Turn the thermostat back to cool and the fan to auto.
If this problem happens again, contact a professional to check for refrigerant leaks or mechanical issues.
How to Prevent Your AC from Freezing
The best way to prevent your AC from freezing is to schedule annual AC maintenance in the spring. During a tune-up, a licensed HVAC technician will check the refrigerant levels to ensure your system is working properly.
Between professional maintenance appointments, you can help maintain your system’s proper airflow by replacing filters every one to three months and ensuring your vents are always open and unobstructed.
When to Call a Professional HVAC Technician
It’s important to get professional AC repairs promptly when your system repeatedly freezes. Contact a reputable HVAC company like Comfort First in these situations:
- Ice keeps returning after basic fixes.
- Your refrigerant needs recharging.
- You suspect a refrigerant leak.
- You need annual AC maintenance.
- Your unit is over 10 years old and has diminished cooling capacity.
Choose Comfort First Heating & Cooling
When you need fast and reliable AC service, trust the team at Comfort First. We’re proud to be North Carolina’s premier HVAC service provider with emergency availability from licensed and insured experts.
From routine maintenance to expert repairs, we handle all your AC needs. Plus, we provide upfront pricing and maintenance plans to help you save.
Request an AC repair for your home by calling Comfort First. We service the Triangle, Sandhills, Triad, Charlotte, Jacksonville, and the Outer Banks.
