If your air conditioner’s outdoor AC coil freezes, you could need air conditioning repairs because this isn’t normal. El Paso, TX, HVAC experts blame a few different issues for this problem.
Dirty Evaporator Coils
Although the outside unit might have frozen over, the problem usually originates in the inside unit. Here you’ll find an evaporator coil that can collect dust, dander, dirt, and other debris. All it takes is a thin layer of debris to cause freezing.
Freezing happens because that seemingly inconsequential thin layer of dirt creates a barrier between your home’s unconditioned (warm) air and the cold coil. Evaporator coils must make contact with warmer air to work properly. When this process is impeded, the refrigerant’s temperature inside the coils drops. Eventually, it freezes.
Cleaning the coil should correct the problem, but don’t attempt to clean it yourself. Your air conditioner’s refrigerant is a gas that can harm you. Leave this air conditioning job to the professionals.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Dirty AC coils aren’t the only reason your home’s outdoor unit might freeze over. If the unit has low refrigerant levels, heat absorption is affected. As odd as it seems to need heat to cool your home, that’s how the system works. Like a dirty coil, an AC system with low refrigerant levels will start to freeze.
If refrigerant levels are low, a leak in the system is likely to blame. You must call a qualified service technician to have them find the leak and repair it. After the repair, the technician recharges the system, and the refrigerant levels are restored—no more frozen outdoor units.
Other Reasons for Frozen Coils
Low refrigerant levels and dirty coils aren’t the only reasons your outdoor AC coil might keep freezing over. Obstructed airflow, clogged air filters, broken motor fans, blocked condensate lines, and malfunctioning thermostats can also cause the outdoor AC coil to freeze. To learn more and schedule prompt, professional air conditioning repair, get in touch with Dynamic Heating & Cooling, Refrigeration.
