Why is it bad news to have your air conditioner freezing up? Well, first of all, a frozen AC won’t have much cooling power to combat our Calgary summer heat. Even worse is the fact that frosty air conditioning coils might signal a serious problem – one that will continue to get worse unless you take care of it quickly.
When we talk about a frozen AC – what we are talking about is the condenser inside your forced air furnace. There is a heat exchanger attached to your furnace (which could be leaking) that you will see the AC lines entering and leaving – that is the condenser.
Now that you know where to look to see if you have frozen AC – let’s talk about how some of the causes and fixes so you can get your AC back up and running fast:
- Thaw out the AC. First things first – if you notice your air conditioner freezing up (air is barely circulating and it won’t be very cold), turn it off right away so it has a chance to thaw out. To help it along, leave the system set to “fan” or warm it gently with a blow dryer.
- Look at the thermostat. Is it possible that someone turned the thermostat way too low? Your AC shouldn’t be set under 20° (even when you’re in a big hurry to cool your home); If the AC is set to run continuously for hours it could bring the refrigerant temperature down below freezing. Turn it up to a less extreme setting.
- Inspect the filter. An air filter that is choked with dirt and dust will keep your system from running efficiently. It’s a good idea to check this first, as it is a common cause of frozen AC condensers and is super easy to fix. Change or clean the filter as necessary, as often as once a month when you’re running your AC a lot.
- Clean the evaporator coil. Cleaning your evaporator coil will help stop your air conditioner freezing up because of the clogs caused by dust and pet hair. A clean coil will work better and generally enable the system to run more efficiently. An annual cleaning and tuneup is included in a Knight Preferred Membership.
- Check the condensate drain line. The line which drains off condensation (a byproduct of the air conditioning process) sometimes gets blocked or loose. As a result, your AC may freeze up. Professional repair or cleaning will solve this issue.
- Make sure the fan’s working right. Freezing may be caused by a non-functional furnace fan, which does not allow good airflow around the evaporator coil. If your fan’s rattling, turning extra-slowly, or not working at all, you might need repair or replacement.
- Take care of any refrigerant leaks. Leaking refrigerant, due to holes or cracks, could be responsible for your frozen AC. Have one of our technicians take care of this complicated fix.
Get Your AC Working Right
Solve your cooling problems fast with Knight’s professional team. Our air conditioner repair and maintenance options work for you 3 ways:
- Cool, comfortable air in your home
- Improved energy efficiency and lower electric bills
- Extended lifespan for your equipment
When it’s time for a new air conditioner, turn to us for expert help for that, as well.
Schedule your appointment with Knight today.