You might wonder how your AC unit ended up freezing in the middle of summer, but this is a fairly common problem. Freezing in your AC is due to a mechanical issue that causes a drop in pressure and improper circulation of air in the AC system, allowing the refrigerant in the AC to expand too much and become too cold. Ice then starts building up in the AC unit, preventing it from working correctly. When this happens, it is necessary to take certain steps to ensure that your AC is fixed. Here are some possible solutions you can implement in case your AC unit freezes up.
Turn the AC Off
If you notice that your AC has frozen up and decide to keep it running, you would be making the situation worse because the AC will form more ice. Your AC unit could have frozen up as a result of little or no airflow in the unit. This means that there is no warm air being blown in the AC unit. The warm air helps to keep the AC unit at the correct temperature to prevent it from freezing.
Moreover, if you keep the frozen air conditioner running, you are more likely to cause several parts of the air conditioner to wear out. This may lead to unnecessary repair and replacement costs after your AC is defrosted. To avoid damaging other parts in your AC unit and high electricity bills, you should turn off the air conditioner thermostat in your home. This will kick-start the defrosting process, which might last up to 24 hours depending on the amount of ice that has formed in your AC system.
Turn the Blower On
Turning the blower on helps raise the temperature in your AC unit. This helps ensure that your AC unit can get rid of the accumulated ice in the system. You should also change the fan settings from “auto” to “on.” This is because leaving the fan settings in automatic mode causes the fan to start and stop constantly.
Changing the fan’s settings will allow the indoor fan to continuously blow warm air to several parts of the AC unit, especially the coils. This process will allow the ice to thaw at a faster rate. If the blower in your Grand Rapids home is not functioning, this would be the right time to schedule an appointment with the professionals from Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling. Our professionals will service your unit accordingly and even help you with the defrosting process.
Check the Refrigerant Levels
Low refrigerant is a common cause of ice formation in an AC unit. But how do low refrigerant levels lead to ice formation? Low refrigerant levels cause the pressure in the AC unit to drop. This allows moisture in the air blown through the AC to freeze when it passes through the coils.
The refrigerant in the AC never gets used up, and it does not evaporate. So, if your frozen AC is the result of low refrigerant, that means there has been a leakage. If you confirm that these leaks are the reason behind the frozen unit, you need to schedule an appointment with an HVAC technician to have the leaks repaired and the refrigeration system recharged.
Check the Air Filter
After turning the AC off, you can go directly to your AC’s location and inspect your filter’s condition. Is it clogged with dust? If it is, you should probably remove it and replace it with a new one, and then turn on the AC to start defrosting the AC unit.
How does replacing the filters help? When the filter in your AC unit is not clean, it serves as an air barrier to stop the air from moving in and out of the AC unit. As a result, it leads to poor airflow in the unit. An air barrier also prevents your AC from working correctly. If you realize that your AC continues to freeze up even after changing the air filter, you can schedule a visit from Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling. Our professionals will conduct a thorough check-up on your AC unit and determine the real reason your AC unit has frozen up.
Check the Evaporator Coils
If the problem causing your AC to freeze is not apparent, you may want to inspect your evaporator coils. Evaporator coils tend to collect too much dirt and debris, especially when the AC unit has been operating for a long time. This causes the heat exchange process in the AC unit to be obstructed. The evaporator coils will hardly absorb any heat from the air, thus causing the AC unit to freeze.
A clogged drain pipe may also prevent condensation from properly draining off the evaporator coils. This may lead to the development of too much condensation in the coils, which eventually freeze up. If you notice that the source of your problem is the evaporator coils, you should inspect the drain pipe for clogging.
Inspect the AC Unit for Defective Parts
Aside from the malfunctioning air filters, low refrigerant levels, and fans, there are other parts you need to check when your AC unit freezes up. One of the essential parts you should check for faults is the O-ring in the refrigerant lines. They usually fail over time, so you need to give them a quick fix. This will help solve the AC freezing issue. However, this may necessitate recharging your AC system.
One or more parts of the blower fans may also be broken, causing it to stop spinning. This might cause your AC unit to freeze up. You will have to replace the blower fans to defrost the AC unit. You should also confirm that you have not blocked the air inflow or outflow of the AC unit. Blocked vents restrict proper air circulation in your system, which causes your AC unit to freeze. In this case, you should increase airflow into your AC unit by unblocking any vent blockages.
Involve HVAC Technicians
A good air conditioning specialist or HVAC professional can complete the inspection of your AC unit and determine why your air conditioner is freezing. HVAC technicians will also avoid damage to the parts of your AC unit during the defrosting process. For example, when the unit thaws completely, the drain pans and condensation drains are at significant risk of additional damage due to the amount of water from the condensing ice that has run through them. In addition, involving a technician is safe as it protects you from exposure to harmful chemicals like refrigerants.
Contact the Professionals
Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling provides quality AC installation, maintenance, and repair services for the residents of Grand Rapids, Three Rivers, Portage, and the surrounding areas. We are a company that has all the required expertise to help you defrost your AC unit. Our skilled staff also helps with AC replacement, furnace repair, and furnace installation services. In addition, we perform energy audits and provide consultation services for our clients who may have different concerns about their HVAC systems.
Contact us today for exceptional HVAC services that will leave you enjoying a comfortable indoor environment regardless of the season.
