The evaporator coil, as its name suggests, is where refrigerant travels and turns from liquid to gas, absorbing the heat from warm air in the process. Frozen evaporator coils can no longer absorb the heat from the surrounding air, and can no longer function properly. This causes your air conditioner to blow warm air instead of cool air.
Causes of A Frozen Evaporator Coil
Reason #1: Dirty Evaporator Coils and Air Filter
A dirty evaporator coil and a dirty air filter are the most common reasons for your coils freezing up. The layer of dust and dirt around the coils act as insulation, preventing your evaporator coil from working properly. Dirty coils are much more susceptible to freezing than clean ones, so it is important to keep dirt out of these areas.
Reason #2: Refrigerant Leaks
Low refrigerant levels brought about by refrigerant leaks also contribute to frozen evaporator coils as the coolant freezes the condensation around the evaporator coil instead of the surrounding air. Low refrigerant will also force your cooling system to overwork, which leads to coil freeze when the condensation supercools.
Reason #3: High Humidity Levels
The air in your room might be oversaturated above the moisture levels your air conditioner can take, which causes increased condensation to pool around your evaporator coils, and freeze as the cold air lowers the temperature. Humid weather, rains, and humidifiers are common reasons for increased moisture in the air.
Reason #4: Malfunctioning Fan Blower
When the fan blower is busted, your air conditioner creates a closed system where air cannot properly flow through the unit. The restricted airflow keeps the cold air inside your unit, and circulates the air through the coils, causing any condensation around these coils to freeze up.
Reason #5: Clogged Condensation Line
A clogged condensation line can back up the collected moisture to your evaporator coils, and cause your system to freeze. Couple the moisture with restricted airflow, and the system can easily freeze up. These lines are often clogged by debris that our HVAC service can clear up for you!
Reason #6: Cold Temperatures
Cold temperatures can cause any moisture in your unit to freeze, especially if you have debris blocking airflow around your unit. Even during cold seasons when you don't use your air conditioner as often, consider maintaining your cleaning schedule with our technicians to upkeep your unit.
Troubleshooting Guide
Tip #1: Clean Your Air Conditioner
The best way to maintain your aircon is to clean it. Wash the filter once every two weeks with some soapy water, and vacuum the coils to prevent dust buildup. Use a can of compressed air to clear up the dust without washing the components, and schedule a deep clean with us once every 4-6 months to keep your unit in good shape.
Tip #2: Use a Dehumidifier
If you live in a particularly humid area, a dehumidifier helps remove the excess moisture in the air. Keep the dehumidifier close to your aircon, and avoid using humidifiers as you use your AC unit. If you can't help to lower the humidity levels in the room, consider installing an exhaust fan to keep the room dry.
Tip #3: Schedule Regular Maintenance
Keep a regular maintenance schedule for your aircon with us, and we can ensure your cooling system will continue to work well without any issues! As a general rule, you should schedule proper aircon servicing and checkup once every 6-12 months, and have our technicians inspect your unit for possible weak points.
Not only will this keep your system working well, but regular maintenance can reinforce any weak points before they break. This will make your aircon much more durable, and will last you for decades.
Tip #4: Repair Issues Immediately
Don't wait until your aircon breaks down before taking it in for repairs. Many aircon issues are due to dirty components, or regular wear and tear, which can be detected early by our professional HVAC technicians. This will avoid the high costs of repairs in the future, and keep your cooling system up and running smoothly for years to come.
Our Final Word
Need aircon help? Contact one of our technicians at Luce for any issue, and we'll get to the bottom of your aircon problems! From purchasing, installing, and maintenance, to cleaning and repairs, Luce is here to guide you through keeping your AC unit up and running.
Check out our article on why is your ac freezing up!
