Frozen Air Conditioner
AC Freezing Up? 4 Reasons Why
Most people don’t see it as a surprise to find their AC cold. But the same can’t be said for those who find frost on theirs. At times, frost build up is so overwhelming that full blocks of ice form on the aircon. Failure to deal with such a situation can be detrimental. You can end up incurring other burdens such as water damage or an expensive AC repair. Luckily there are remedies to the situation if detected at an early stage.
The first and most straightforward thing to do when fixing your frozen AC is turning the system off in an attempt to stop the frosting. But if the AC was initially cooling, the frost will continue to form. In such a situation, you should turn on your thermostat and set it to heat. This will help speed up the thawing process. When thawing, be keen on the water levels in the unit. If the drain pan overflows, you could experience water damage from your AC. Below are some of the main reasons why your AC might freeze up.
1. Low Refrigerant
Air conditioners use chlorodifluoromethane also known as R22 to cool. This chemical displays different physical properties when subjected to various pressure stages. In a typical working AC, R22 passes through the lines at a temp that favours condensation. In case anything happens and the rhythm of pressure is disrupted in your AC, the R22 starts acting differently to adapt to the pressure changes. In such a situation, warm moist air moving from your house over the evaporator begins to condense and freezes on the coils thus forming ice on them. Failure to fix the issue can lead to potential water damage.
2. Poor Airflow
Proper airflow is essential if you are to avoid freezing in your AC. If the airflow is weak, the AC will not get sufficient air, which provides heat as warm air moves from your house. This will consequentially cause condensation on the coils, thus forming ice.
3. Dirty Coils
Dirty coils result in freezing since the layer of dirt laying on the coils prevents dehumidification. This leads to the formation of frost and ice on the coils. In such conditions, the evaporator coils freeze, which in turn causes condensation. The result is catastrophic to the drip pan, which collects the condensation droplets and ends up overflowing. Additionally, the coils get waterlogged and freeze.
4. Damaged Blower
The measure of how effective your AC creates and delivers fresh air relies on its ability to maintain the right balance of airflow and air pressure. This is achieved using a blow fan in the AC. When the blower is damaged, airflow inside the air handler will be affected. Too much condensation builds up on the coils, and the water droplets do not drain as they should. Without the proper flow of hot air, the refrigerant line would freeze and potentially spread to the condenser unit.
A frozen air conditioner ultimately calls for RNR air conditioning in Cairns. This reliable service reachable through RNR’s Facebook specialises in maintaining and repairing malfunctioning aircons. Their about page delves more into expert servicing and fair pricing.