The most common and obvious problem we hear from our customers in Summer is that their Air Conditioners are not cooling enough.
While inspection we find that there is an Ice buildup on the Outdoor Condenser unit and also into the Refrigerant lines/joints inside.
Check your Air Filters:
One of the main causes of an air conditioner freezing up is improper airflow. This basically means that your air conditioner is suffocating and not getting enough air to operate properly.
Insufficient airflow causes the coils to drop below freezing. The humidity in the air then collects on the coils, creating an even greater buildup of ice on your air conditioner.
This is usually a result of a dirty air filter that needs to be replaced, but can also be caused by:
- An air filter that is too restrictive
- Not enough return ducts
- Improperly sized or damaged ductwork
- Dirty evaporator coils
These are actual pictures of the Dirty filters from our customer’s systems
Check your Refrigerant Level:
Refrigerant is an important part of your air conditioner and causing cooling or refrigeration. It collects the heat in your home and moves it outside.
An AC refrigerant leak is caused by holes or cracks in the coils that circulate the refrigerant. Over the time vibrations and normal wear and tear can lead to refrigerant leaks. This causes your A/C system to work less efficiently and can also cause the air conditioner to freeze.
When an air conditioner is low on refrigerant or charged incorrectly, the coils containing the refrigerant get too cold, causing ice to build up on the coils.
The problem grows quickly when the air is humid or the coils are dirty.
Get a professional technician to inspect your refrigerant charge. If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, get the leak fixed or you’ll end up in the same situation again soon.
Checklist for Homeowners
- Check your filters regularly, summer or winter, recommended every 3 months or when dirty.
- Check your system for any dirt, ice buildup and any unusual noise
- Get annual AC service and maintenance from a certified technician