Has your air conditioner stopped blowing or had its air flow weakened even though you hear the motor running full speed? Do you see ice around or in the outside unit? If so, take these steps.
1. Make Sure All Windows Are Closed
Running an air conditioner with the windows open can cause an air conditioner to freeze because outside air is almost always much more humid than inside air. With the window open, the air conditioner keeps pulling in more outside air and more humidity with it. The extra humidity creates additional condensation inside the air conditioner, and when there is too much condensation, it will freeze before it can evaporate. Luckily, all you need to do is turn off your air conditioner and wait for the ice to melt, and it should run like normal.
2. Check the Filter and Make Sure Vents are Clear
Poor air flow is another major cause of freezing because it slows the evaporation rate of the condensation inside the air conditioner. Like with open windows, the condensation may turn into ice if it doesn’t evaporate quickly enough. The leading causes of poor air flow are dirty air filters and blocked vents. Replace the air filter, and make sure air vents at or near ground level are clean and unobstructed.
3. Call an HVAC Professional
If the above steps didn’t solve your air conditioner freezing problem, call the professionals at Cox Air Conditioning and Heating. The problem is likely to be an improper refrigerant charge or another problem with the refrigerant system. A system that is too highly charged could be so cold that condensation immediately freezes even with strong air flow while a system that has a low charge could slow the evaporation process to the point where ice forms.
Because of the environmental impact of mishandled Freon and other refrigerants, it is a violation of federal law to handle refrigerant without a license. You may also risk extensive and expensive damage to your air conditioner if you try to correct this issue on your own.
