It isn’t normal for your outside air conditioning unit to freeze. Something is causing the refrigerant temperatures to drop too much causing the evaporator coil or condenser coil to freeze up. This could stem from several different problems and likely requires air conditioning repair in Saratoga, CA. Here are some reasons why the unit is freezing and how you might troubleshoot what is going on.
Clogged Air Filter
You would be surprised how many problems can stem from a clogged air filter. The main issue is a dirty filter restricts the airflow. It keeps the air from passing over the coils. And if warm air doesn’t mass over the coils the temperature of the refrigerant drops and the coils start to freeze. To figure out if this is your issue you need to pull your filters and check to see if they are clogged. If light passes through the filter they are clear enough to use. If you can’t see light coming through, it is time to change them out. Swap them and allow the system time to thaw before trying to run it again.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Over time, dust, dirt, and contaminants will start to cling to the system. If even a thin layer of dirt clings to the coil it can act as a barrier between the coil and the air from the home. This can cause it to freeze over. In some cases, you can clean the coil on the outdoor unit yourself. If it is the indoor coil that is freezing, homeowners should not attempt to clean it on their own.
Obstructed Return Vents
The return vents are where the HVAC system pulls air from the home. As you can imagine, blocking off the vents means the air conditioner cannot suck enough air to pull over the evaporator coil, and just like with a clogged filter, the coils can freeze. An easy solution is to check all the return vents in your home and be sure that curtains and furniture are out of the way. Also, the air conditioning system in your home is sized to cool the entire house with all of the grills open. Some homeowners mistakenly believe that closing off vents in the unused parts of the home will help the system run more efficiently and save them money. This isn’t true. Obstructing the vents will actually decrease the efficiency of your system and can limit airflow to cause the coil to ice over.
Low Refrigerant
The refrigerant is the substance that helps absorb the heat from the air so it can circulate cooler air through the home. Lower levels of refrigerant mean the coils cannot absorb the heat and over time the temperature of the refrigerant drops too low. But refrigerant in your system doesn’t get used up. It runs through a closed system. And if there is a leak causing low refrigerant it could be dangerous. You will want to hire an HVAC technician to come and check out your system as soon as possible.
For help with air conditioning repair in Saratoga, CA don’t hesitate to call the professionals at Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning.
The post Why is My Outside Unit Frozen? appeared first on Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning.