Are Your Coils Frozen? Here’s What to Do!
Frozen coils are a problem we see fairly often. It’s an unfortunate product of a cooling system gone awry in one way or another. While it’s obvious when your air conditioner is freezing up, it might not be so obvious what the exact culprit is. That’s where we come in!
If you’re one of the few homeowners that think a frozen coil is a signal that your air conditioner is doing a good job, then we’d like to stop you right there. Under no circumstances is it normal for an air conditioner to freeze up. Frozen coils of any kind are always indicative of a problem that needs to be fixed. Our team can be the one that provides targeted AC repair in Raleigh, NC which will treat the problem at its core. Keep reading and call us!
Why Do Coils Freeze?
Freezing coils are usually the product of low airflow through the system. Think about it closely. When an air conditioner produces cooled air, that cooled air needs to be circulated through the system and then through your air ducts. When that airflow gets blocked, more cooled air is going to get trapped in the system, eventually leading to sub-freezing temperatures. This is generally bad, because it stifled your air conditioner and compounds the already strict airflow.
Turn Off the AC
Nothing is going to get better if you don’t first turn off the air conditioner and allow the ice to melt. If you try to perform any fixes yourself, or have a professional look at it while the ice is still there, you’ll just have to wait anyways.
Change the Air Filter
One of the easiest ways to mitigate ice on an air conditioner’s coils is to change out the air filter every 1-3 months. The air filter is responsible for filtering contaminants out of the air before it reaches the coils to be cooled. When an air filter gets clogged up, your air conditioner is going to have a harder time getting air to flow through the system. This will lead to the drop in air temperature within your air conditioner and the eventual accumulation of ice.
Possible Refrigerant Issue
Another reason for coils freezing could be due to a refrigerant leak. When there’s less refrigerant in your system, it generally cycles through the air conditioner too quickly and can drop temperatures below where they should be. This means you’ll get freezing temperatures and the same freezing-cold refrigerant cycling through the system every minute.
Sometimes pressure issues in the refrigerant line can also contribute to freezing coils. When pressure drops too low, refrigerant can expand too much which inevitably drops the pressure and causes it to become too cold.
Call the Pros
If changing your air filter doesn’t do the trick, you’re only going to fix your air conditioner with the proper professional help. Things like refrigerant leaks and mechanical problems can only be solved by a team of pros with the right tools and expertise. Trust us, our team is best suited to keep your system in good shape.
Give us at Raleigh Heating & Air a call today if you’re experiencing ice on your AC’s coils.