What Are The Reasons AC Coils Freeze?

Your air conditioner became more than a luxury item a long time ago. Instead, it’s become a necessity thanks to the ever-increasing temperatures in the summer. In fact, full-year habitation in some parts of the country would be impossible without AC. Arizona is one such state – which is why it is so vital that your AC in Arizona works properly.

If your AC coils freeze, your AC will either stop working or work with a reduced capacity, both of which are less than ideal in the middle of summer in Arizona. That’s why we reached out to Arizona’s top AC techs at Hughes Air & Co. to share tips on how to identify frozen coils and what can be done about it.

Can You See the Frozen Coils?

You might think that it should be pretty simple to see the frozen coils – ice is quite obvious to spot. However, your evaporator and condenser coils are not out in the open. Instead, they’re securely inside the AC units, and you may not be able to see them at all.

What you will be able to notice are some subtle signs that your system is not performing as well. Even though there can be a number of reasons why your AC is underperforming (or not working at all), if you notice all of these issues, the chances are that the coils are frozen.

Puddles of Water in Your Home

Seeing freestanding water in your home where no water should be, is a very unpleasant moment for any homeowner. The first thought is probably a leaky pipe – a particularly costly repair and one which may take a long time to fix.

However, it may not be the cause of strange water in your home. Particularly if it’s nowhere near your pipes but close to the drain lines of your AC. If the evaporator coils are frozen, the draining lines might be overwhelmed and start leaking.

Your Electricity Bill Is Higher

If you notice that your electricity bill is higher than the previous month, and especially compared to the same month last year, one of the most likely reasons is the AC system. If it’s not working at full capacity, your ac will have to work longer and harder in order to achieve the same temperature – thus spending more electricity.

What Causes Frozen Coils?

There are a few reasons why your AC might have frozen evaporator coils. In most cases, there is an obstruction of some kind that prevents the fins of the coil from exchanging heat effectively. Whatever the cause is, you need to consult an expert and have them inspect and repair the problem before your AC experiences a more severe breakdown.

Leaking Refrigerant Fluid

Refrigerant is typically contained within the coils and shouldn’t leave the closed system. However, it can happen that your AC system springs a leak. In that case, the pressure required for successful operation drops, and your AC will become too cold to operate, and ice will form on your coils.

Dirty Air Filter Causing Obstructions

The other major cause of ice buildup in your evaporator coils is an obstruction in the airflow, typically from a dirty air filter. Reduced airflow can cause many problems, including ice buildup in your indoor unit.

Your evaporator coils require a constant stream of warm air to exchange heat. If there is no air and the AC is on, the coils will become colder and colder until they are cold enough to form ice on them.

Fortunately, just cleaning or replacing the air filter can resolve this issue.

Whatever the cause of the ice buildup in your system, you should not ignore it – contact your local HVAC experts and have them inspect and repair your AC as quickly as possible. You can reach out to emergency ac repair Las Vegas if you need to have your AC serviced immediately.

Malfunctioning Thermostats

Your thermostat is in constant action by keeping track of the temperature inside the AC. It controls the temperature inside the AC to maintain a consistent temperature. Hence, if the thermostat is broken, it senses the wrong temperature and controls the AC accordingly. This kind of malfunctioning forces the AC to run too long before the AC coil freezes.

Most people think of this problem as their lack of efficiency in maintaining a consistent temperature and avoid looking inside the AC. However, if the problem goes unchecked for a long time, it can ultimately damage Ac coils.

Final Thoughts

Taking care of your AX over time ensures that you find the problem in the initial stage. Maintaining your AC regularly helps reduce the cost of maintenance and gives your AC a longer life. That means you can worry less about your AC and can spend your time on more important things.