It’s about time to start relying on your air conditioner on a daily basis. As spring warms up and you head straight into summer, the only thing between you and sweaty, uncomfortable days is the help of your air conditioner. But, if its coils are frozen, don’t expect your air conditioner to function properly. Ask an HVAC contractor, and they’ll explain that frozen AC coils can cause the appliance to blow warm air or no air at all.
Don’t get caught in the heat. Read this guide to the most common and preventable causes of frozen AC coils.
Dirty Air Filters
Air filters are responsible for trapping airborne allergens and keeping them out of your lungs, indoor air, ducts, and the air conditioner itself. Pollutants, such as pet dander, dirt, dust, pollen, and other irritants, get caught in the fibers of air filters, which are usually located in the appliance itself or at the return air register inside your home. When the filters are full of pollutants, they can no longer trap additional pollutants and they’ll start to line parts, including the AC coils. This interrupts air flow, causing the coils to get so cold that they eventually freeze.
It’s important to keep your filters clean and change them often. How often? That depends, but you can ask an HVAC company which type of filter you need and how often it should be cleaned or replaced. These factors depend on the type of air-conditioning system you own.
Broken Fans
Many people have the misconception that the large fans in an air conditioner are responsible for creating cool air, and that your home essentially feels the effects of a very large, very fast-moving fan. While the fan contributes to the process, what is actually does it propel ambient air over the AC coils. The coils are full of refrigerant and are very cold. As warm air passes over these cold coils, the coils absorb their heat and the temperature in the air drops.
In many systems, an additional fan will then propel this cooled air through your ducts and out of the vents inside your home. However, if these fans don’t work, an insufficient air supply will pass over the coils. This can cause them to freeze. You’ll need HVAC repair experts to fix the frozen coils and the broken fans.
Condensate Lines
Condensate lines are located inside your air conditioner and are essentially pieces of plumbing used to drain moisture. Humid air passes through your air conditioner and dehumidifies as it cools. When air dehumidifies, it turns into condensation, liquid water, which will then need to be drained away.
However, if the condensate lines are blocked or frozen, water won’t drain away. Instead, it will linger inside of the appliance and freeze when the AC coils get very cold. Eventually, condensation will freeze into ice that lines the coils themselves. HVAC companies can repair the condensate lines if necessary.
What to Do
If your AC system’s coils are frozen, the air conditioner may not be able to produce a steady supply of cool air to meet your needs. These are just some of the most common reasons why AC coils may freeze up. However, another problem, such as overuse of the appliance or an old appliance with broken parts, could be to blame. The only way to know for certain is to contact Omega Heating & Air, a professional HVAC service in Stockbridge. If you suspect your air conditioner isn’t working properly, visit omegaheatingandair.net to schedule an inspection and repairs today.