Nothing feels better than a cold blast from your air conditioner during one of Edmonton’s boiling hot summer days. But if you went to turn on your AC and found ice inside the unit—ice—you may wonder how that can even happen during the summer, and more importantly, how to fix it.
Frozen air conditioners are an inconvenient but common problem our team at Weiss-Johnson comes across during this time of year. With the help of an expert technician, you can address the problem and make sure that you’re the one receiving all that good, cool air. Keep reading to learn why you can count on Weiss-Johnson for quality air conditioner repair!
How an Air Conditioner Can Freeze in Summer Heat
Despite your weather app displaying plus 30 temperatures, it’s still possible for your HVAC system to experience a freeze-up. How does this happen exactly? The Joule-Thomson Effect.
If the air in your air conditioner isn’t compressed, its temperature decreases, and it expands, slowing the air molecules. Air conditioners do this to expand the refrigerant in your AC’s evaporator coil, which is what provides your home with consistent, cool air.
However, if your air conditioner starts malfunctioning, your refrigerant can reach a significantly lower temperature than it should. If it falls below freezing, that’s what causes the unit to ice over.
So, what causes an air conditioner to malfunction and the Joule-Thomson Effect to take place? Some causes for a frozen air conditioner include:
Blocked air flow: If something is blocking the airflow in your AC unit, it prevents warmer air from passing over the evaporator coil and causes the temperature to drop too low. This creates moisture that builds up and freezes on the coils.
Refrigerant leaks: Low refrigerant levels can create a pressure drop inside your evaporator coils. Low pressure is another culprit that causes your refrigerant to expand too much, as there isn’t the additional volume to absorb the temperature drop.
Mechanical problems: A frozen AC can also be caused by internal mechanical issues like a damaged blower fan or blocked coils. If your fan isn’t circulating air properly, this can cause your unit to freeze.
Dust and debris build-up over the AC coils can prevent hot air from absorbing, causing ice to form instead.
Warm supply registers: Are you getting warm air from your supply registers? This usually means that the cool air flow is being blocked, causing that area of your unit to heat up while the evaporator coils freeze.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues with your AC unit, it looks like it’s time for a repair job!
How to Fix A Frozen Air Conditioner
If your air conditioner has already turned into the frozen tundra, there are a few steps you can take to fix it and restore a functional cool air system.
- Turn it off and let it thaw: First things first, turn off the air conditioner so that it has a chance to thaw out. You can help it thaw quicker by leaving the fan on.
- Check the thermostat: If your thermostat was lowered, this could also be what’s causing your air conditioner to freeze up. As a rule, your unit should sit at a minimum temperature of 20°C. Try turning it back up and check on your unit to see if it begins to thaw.
- Inspect the air filter: A dirty air filter is a common cause of frozen AC condensers. If you haven’t changed your filter in a while, remove it, clean it, and/or replace it with a fresh filter. To prevent this issue, your filter should be replaced every 1-3 months.
- Contact an AC technician: If your icy AC unit is the result of a more serious issue like a refrigerant leak, a blocked condensate drain line, or a mechanical problem, the damage can worsen if you try to fix it yourself. Contact a certified HVAC technician to inspect, diagnose, and repair the problem to ensure your unit maintains its lifespan and efficiency.
At Weiss-Johnson, we employ only the best HVAC talent Edmonton has to offer, which is why you can trust our skilled technicians to restore your AC unit to full capacity. We don’t just want to leave you with a functioning HVAC system; we want to help maintain the comfort and safety of your home!
Stay Cool in the Summer Heat with Weiss Johnson
Frozen air conditioners are a nuisance on a hot summer day, but with expert air conditioner repair from Weiss-Johnson, you can have your unit up and running in no time!
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for AC maintenance, repair, or replacement, and stay cool during Edmonton’s hottest season!
