3 Reasons Your AC Might Freeze Over in Hot Weather
It's frustrating when your air conditioner stops working when you need it most. While you may think that the summer heat contradicts the fact that the unit can freeze over, it's, unfortunately, a common occurrence during the warmer months of the year. This is especially true when you are using it more than usual. Before you call an air conditioning contractor for repairs, use this guide to learn about the various reasons why this might happen to your appliance.
What Causes an AC Unit to Freeze Over in the Summer?
1. Low Refrigerant
Low refrigerant levels may be due to a leak in your AC system that leads to less transfer of heat. Without this transfer, your unit will be unable to create cold air efficiently, which will cause the coils to freeze over.
If you suspect that your AC is low on refrigerant, try locating the leak. When you reach out to an air conditioning contractor, you can let them know what you've discovered. They can confirm the issue when they come out for a maintenance call, and they'll fix the problem and refill the refrigerant reservoir.
2. Thermostat Malfunction
If your thermostat is reading the wrong temperature, the AC blower will turn on and off frequently. This constant cycling causes the unit to freeze over.
If you see a spike in your energy bills or have noticed your AC shutting on and off repeatedly, a malfunctioning thermostat may be the culprit. Excessive operation leads to additional wear and tear on the machinery that can cause premature breakdown. You should get this kind of mechanical problem fixed before anything worsens and repairs become more expensive.
3. Cold Summer Nights
Sometimes nights can become unexpectedly cold during the summer months, which can come as a shock to your AC system. If you keep the unit running overnight, a layer of ice can form on the coils and cause the system to freeze over. Since your AC unit works via heat transfer, it needs warmer outdoor temperatures to create cold air inside. If there's little to no heat to absorb on a chilly night, the refrigerant can also freeze in the coils.
4. Damage Caused by Frozen Coils:
Frozen indoor coils cause damage to the home. During the thawing out process, the water generally does not go down the drain since the drain is frozen. This can cause damage to the floor and wall potentially. When you have a ducted system in an attic there can be a very great potential for damage since it is in an area that is unseen. By the time you see the evidence, the damage has been done. A good installer will see this and install an additional drain pan under the attic unit to catch and drain the water off in case of a failure. All this is a good reason to have your HVAC system serviced regularly.
If you are looking for an air conditioning contractor to install or repair an AC unit, reach out to Vashon Heating & Cooling. These residential and commercial HVAC specialists have over 35 years of experience installing and repairing heating and cooling systems for customers throughout Vashon, WA. They also work with thermostats, radiators, and tankless water heaters and offer custom ductwork. Call
(206) 463-1777 to schedule a repair appointment, or visit the website for more information on their services.