There are a number of reasons for an air conditioner to freeze up and it really doesn t matter whether it is a window ac unit or a central air conditioner the causes of and solutions to an air conditioner that keeps freezing up are exactly the same.
Central air refrigerant line frozen.
This means extra stress on your ac system.
Warm air blows over the evaporator coil refrigerant removes the heat from the air and then cold air is pushed back in your home.
If your air conditioner is already not working you can simply look for an ice build up on the.
If your air conditioning line is frozen not only will this result in a block of ice covering your evaporator coils preventing any air from passing through it can really damage the heart of your system which is the compressor.
So what s the deal.
If light can pass through the fins.
Clogged air filter coils or obstruction in front of return.
The evaporator coil is the part of your ac system that cools the warm air taken from inside your home.
When the lines are frozen the ac unit usually fails to deliver cold air at the desired temperature.
In such a case the refrigerant may cause the air outside the line to condense and then freeze.
While a frozen air conditioner can be caused by different things and may require the expertise of a qualified hvac technician to fix there are some things that you can try yourself first.
How to repair a frozen up central air conditioner unit.
Clean the inside unit using a lower pressure air line or a vacuum cleaner.
Or it may need to work harder to reach the expected temperature.
In the outside unit.
Chances are your indoor unit s evaporator coil is frozen solid and cold liquid refrigerant is flowing to the outside unit through the refrigerant line which is why it s covered in ice.
This issue is a sign that your system is not working properly.
Pay extra close attention to the connection at the venting system and near any bends in the line.
But when the pressure changes for some reason the refrigerant may start to act abnormally.
An evaporator coil in a central ac unit.
How do you fix a frozen air conditioner.
During normal operation water vapors may condense on the outside of the lines carrying the refrigerant.
Causes for central air conditioner freezing up.
Examine the vent filters.
Low refrigerant means low pressure and low pressure means low temperatures that will eventually freeze something called an evaporator coil.
When the evaporator coil freezes cold liquid refrigerant flows through the refrigerant line causing the surrounding moisture in the air to freeze.
Check the vent filters to see if they are clogged and restricting air flow.
So that s why the refrigerant line has ice on it.
Whatever the cause frozen ac lines are not something you can ignore.
Your outside air conditioning refrigerant line is covered in ice which seems crazy in arizona heat.
Trim grass and remove debris from around the unit.
The first step in repairing your air conditioning unit and preventing freezing is to inspect the cold air line for any tears or damage to the insulation.
