When your air conditioner freezes, you deal with one of the most prevalent air conditioning problems. Don’t be deceived by the frosty failure leaving solid ice on your unit; the problem will cause your home, and even your temper, to heat up.
Follow this guide to figure out why your air conditioner is frozen and how to fix it.
What causes an air conditioner to freeze?
Whether you have a window or a central air conditioner, the causes of your AC freezing are usually the same, as are the strategies for correcting it.
The manipulation of the Joule-Thomson Effect, which is the fundamental of thermodynamics that allowed us to develop an air conditioning unit in the first place, is usually the underlying reason for your AC freezing up.
The Joule-Thompson Relationship
The Joule-Thomson Effect is a hypothesis that outlines how gas flow and pressure interact. In a nutshell, the method states that when a gas expands, pressure and temperature fall (and vice versa). This is significant because your air conditioner expands refrigerant (the liquid agents that make your AC operate) to absorb heat in your home and then push cool air out.
As a result, your air conditioning machine expands refrigerant and drops temperature, occasionally leading it to malfunction and resulting in a frozen AC unit.
The most prevalent causes of a frozen air conditioner
Although the procedure appears complicated, the common causes are relatively simple.
Inadequate airflow: When your air conditioning unit lacks insufficient airflow, the heat in your home cannot be drawn into the team. Condensation can form on the coils and convert them into ice when this happens.
Low refrigerant generates low pressure in your AC unit; as previously said, low pressure means low temperatures. Your evaporator coils may freeze as a result of this.
Mechanical flaws: A fan, a compressor, and an expansion device are the mechanical components of an air conditioning unit. If any of these components aren’t working properly, it might disrupt the pressure in your AC unit, causing temperatures to drop and your air conditioner to freeze.
How do you repair a frozen air conditioner?
Fixing your frozen AC unit is generally a straightforward solution if found early. Follow the steps below to identify the problem and take appropriate action.
Step one: is to defrost your air conditioner.
If your air conditioner is frozen, take steps to defrost it and allow the coils to dry. Turn your thermostat to ‘off’ and your fan to ‘on.’ This will prevent further damage and give you a better understanding of what’s going on with your laptop.
Step two: Determine the root reason.
Examine the air filters: The material stuck in your air filter is one of the most prevalent causes of obstructed airflow in your AC unit. As previously stated, poor ventilation prevents heat from entering the system and can cause your unit to freeze. If your air filters appear unclean, clean them or replace them if you last did so a while ago. Remember that air filters should be updated every 2 to 3 months.
Check the coils: If your air filters are clean — or have recently been cleaned – inspect your evaporator coil, as dirty coils can also obstruct airflow. Check the user handbook for your air conditioner to learn the best approach to access your panels and evaporator coils. To clean the coils, turn off your air conditioner and use compressed air or a soft (not wire) brush to remove debris.
Examine the ductwork: Collapsed ducting, like trash, can cause airflow concerns. If ductwork is properly installed, it can easily ensure air flow, preventing warm air from reaching your unit. While certain duct concerns, such as gaps or small holes, can be repaired using duct tape, a professional should evaluate more substantial damage.
Check for leaks.
Low levels of refrigerant not only reduce the functionality of your air conditioning and may indicate a leak. Check for leaks as soon as possible because freon exposure can be dangerous over time. While some refrigerant leaks are visible to the naked eye, others are more difficult to detect. If your refrigerant levels continue to fall, consider running a dye detection test to discover gradual leakage. Mixing a small amount of fluorescent dye with the refrigerant produces a dye leak test. If there is a leak, the fluorescent dye/refrigerant mixture will have stronger colors on the ground, making it simpler to detect.
Examine what’s under the hood.
Things can become more technical now. Can you detect whether your refrigerant lines are in good condition? Is the blower fan operational? Is there a method to see if your filter dryer is working? All of these technical difficulties cause your air conditioner to malfunction, and if you’re handy, you can swiftly identify and repair the broken parts. However, if this phase is too advanced, it may be removed.