Why Is My Air Conditioner Freezing?

As reliable as they usually are, air conditioners can cause headaches at the worst possible time. Even if you change the filters and schedule regular AC maintenance like you’re supposed to, there is still a chance your air conditioner will freeze up at some point over the summer. The summer months in Northern VA can be brutal, it’s important you know how to handle a frozen AC unit.

If you live in the Northern Virginia area, and you’re looking for air conditioner repair services, call John Nugent & Sons today at 703-291-1926!

What Causes an Air Conditioner to Freeze?

Before we explain how you can fix your air conditioner when it freezes, let’s take a look at what might cause your air conditioner to freeze in the first place. There are three main reasons an air conditioner can freeze up:

Lack of Airflow

Lack of airflow is one of the most common reasons that many air conditioners freeze up. Anytime you have limited airflow—for instance, if you have dirty air filters or undersized ducts—you run the risk of causing the temperature of your AC’s cooling coil to drop to below freezing. To prevent dirty air filters, it is imperative you change your filter every few months. It is also recommended you perform regular air conditioner maintenance.

Refrigerant Leaks

The amount of refrigerant in your air conditioner has to be carefully balanced if you want to keep your air conditioner running smoothly during the summer months. If there is too little refrigerant in your coil, it will not be able to absorb enough heat and will end up freezing.

Outdoor Temperature

The summer months in Northern Virginia will definitely be hot—but when it gets cooler in the evenings, there is a chance that your air conditioner could freeze up. Air conditioners may freeze up when temperature are below 60 F.

How to Repair a Frozen AC

Regardless of the cause of a frozen AC, what you should do is turn your unit off and let it defrost—this will prevent any serious damage to the system. Next, check all the air filters in your home to see if they are dirty or blocked. If they are dirty, you should clean or replace them. Check back in about 24 hours—if there is no more ice on your compressor, changing the filters solved the problem.

Does your air conditioner still freeze up and you’re just not sure why? No worries—call the air conditioner experts at John Nugent & Sons for AC repair in McLean, Falls Church, Centreville, or surrounding areas in Northern Virginia.