Scenario:
My air conditioner is freezing up almost daily. I’ve tried resetting the temperature and nothing seems to work. What would you suggest I to to stop my air conditioner from freezing?
Solution:
There are several factors that could be the cause. The four main reasons for air conditioner freeze ups:
Refrigerant charge
Outdoor temperature
Insufficient air flow
Defective blower
You may have a low refrigerant charge which can cause the air conditioner to freeze up. The system needs to be charged correctly to enable it to work properly. You may have a leak in the refrigerant lines.
If the lines have been vibrating or rubbing other parts or objects the friction could cause a leak. In addition if there are loose fittings or weak solder joints it could be leaking from those areas. If you’ve determined the refrigerant lines are not leaking than it may just need to be recharged. If you don’t know how to recharge it you may need to contact a service technician.
In temperatures under 60 degrees outdoor air conditioning units tend not to function as well. When the temperature drops the system begins to not function properly and freeze ups can occur. The simplest method is to not use your unit when the temperature cools down and open your windows or doors. If that’s not a option you will probably need to have a ambient temperature control installed in your system.
The evaporator coils will become dirty over time. A dirty filter restricts the air flow making it lose air flow and eventually it becomes so slow that it freezes up, or at best, not cooling as well as it should. This results in dirty coils that will need to be cleaned. Depending on your air conditioner you may have to remove the coils to clean them. You should replace the AC filter yearly. For central air conditioning units another problem that occurs is when you have duct work that is undersized causing the unit to freeze up. If you feel that may be the problem you’ll need to consult a professional. Try replacing the filter first and it may do the trick.
Air conditioner freeze ups can occur when the blower is not running at the required speed and may need to be replaced.
These are the main reasons why air conditioners freeze up. If you’re lucky it may just be a dirty filter which you should be able to replace yourself.