Working as a Heating Professional Can Lead to Success

2 Possible Reasons Why Your Central Air Conditioner Keeps Freezing Up

31 March 2021

Abbie Wade

Sometimes, it may seem that your home's central air conditioning unit freezes up almost on a daily basis. One of the main causes of this issue is setting the thermostat lower than the outdoor temperature.

However, if you check the settings and know that this is not the case, there could be something wrong within the system itself. Below are a couple of possible reasons why your central A/C system keeps freezing up.

1.  Coils Are Caked in Dust and Dirt

One possible reason why ice keeps forming inside of the system is that the coils are dirty. Normally, when the coils are clean, they cool the air as it passes over them, which helps to dissipate the freezing temperatures.

However, if the coils are caked in dust and dirt, they are no longer in direct contact with the air. The dirt creates an insulating layer over the coils that traps the frigid air. Any moisture in this layer then freezes up, causing ice to form.

As more moisture in the air passes over the icy coils, the more the ice builds up. When this happens, you will need to turn off the unit to let the ice melt.

If you feel comfortable doing the job, you can gently wipe the dirt and dust off of the coils' surfaces. If you are not completely confident in your abilities, however, have a professional deal with cleaning these delicate parts.

2.  Refrigerant Levels Are Too Low

If the coils are not dirty, another possible reason why the air conditioner keeps freezing up is that the refrigerant levels are too low. When the levels drop, the refrigerant becomes concentrated in certain areas where it freezes the moisture in the air surrounding the lines quickly.

However, this is not the only issue at play when the levels are low. A low level always means a leak somewhere, so the refrigerant is directly freezing the moisture inside the A/C system.

While it is possible that you could clean the coils yourself if they are causing the issue, you should not attempt to either refill or repair the refrigerant lines. Any job working with refrigerant requires someone who has not only the proper license but also experience. Contact an HVAC contractor in your area that offers A/C repair services to have them locate the cause of the low refrigerant level so that they can fix the issue and recharge it to the appropriate amount.

Share

Search