As the summer season begins and the temperatures climb, you’ll start turning to your air conditioner for comfort. But, if you haven’t maintained your air conditioner, there is a possibility that it may begin freezing up.
A frozen air conditioner can become damaged quickly if left unattended. You should know the causes of a frozen air conditioner, signs your air conditioner is frozen, and what to do to protect it from further damage.
How Do I Know My Air Conditioner Is Freezing Up
The most obvious sign that your air conditioner is freezing up is visible ice on the side of your unit. But there are other signs to look for if you suspect your unit is frozen. The signs that your unit is freezing up include the following.
- Your unit is blowing hot air.
- You hear a hissing sound.
- There’s water pooling around your unit.
- Your electric bill is higher than average.
- The coils inside the unit are frozen.
What Is Causing It To Freeze Up?
To protect your air conditioner, you’ll want to know what can cause it to freeze up. There are several factors that can lead to your unit freezing up, including the following:
- Dirty Filter: Airflow is essential for the life of your air conditioner. If the airflow to your unit is blocked, the coils might get too cold and freeze up.
- Dirty Coils: If dust, dirt, and grime cover the coils in your air conditioner, the airflow can get blocked and may freeze the unit.
- Damaged Or Broken Blower: With many moving parts, your air conditioner may be freezing up due to a damaged or broken part.
- Low Refrigerant: If you see any leaks coming from your unit, you may be low on refrigerant, which will cause the pressure in your unit to drop and may cause it to freeze over.
What To Do Now That It’s Frozen
Because your air conditioner may freeze up for many reasons, there are a couple of steps you’ll want to take at home to try to fix the problem. To protect your air conditioner while it’s freezing up, you’ll want to follow each of these steps:
- Turn Off Your Unit: If you suspect your air conditioner is frozen, you first want to turn it off. Leaving a frozen air conditioner on can damage parts you hadn’t previously had problems with, creating an even bigger mess on your plate. Turn it off to prevent further damage.
- Check Your Filter: The most common cause of a frozen air conditioner is a dirty air filter. You’ll want to check your filter to ensure it isn’t dirty. Your air filter should be changed every 30 to 60 days if you are allergy-free. If you’re dealing with allergies, you’ll want to replace it more often. You’ll need to ensure you’re replacing it with the correct filter. Take a look at the filter which was in your unit. Many air filters have the dimensions written on the side, so you should take a look and note the size before getting a new one.
- Turn The Cool Off, Fan On, And Let It Run: You’ll want to get the ice off your unit. To do this, turn the cool setting off on your air conditioner, turn the fan on, and let it run. It will need to run for three to four hours to remove any built-up ice, though it may take up to 24 hours in some extreme cases. Don’t turn the heat on in your unit just to get the ice off. If you turn the heat on, you’ll end up with a large puddle of water around the unit. Staying solely on the fan will slowly remove the ice, preventing a larger mess.
- Turn The Cooling Back On: After the unit has fully thawed, turn the cool air back on. Let it run for a while and check on it sporadically. If you return and find ice is starting to form again, the problem might be more significant than a simple fix.
- Call A Technician: If you’ve followed the instructions above and your air conditioner is still frozen, you’ll want to call a technician to look at it. If the steps above haven’t helped remove ice build-up, the problem may be more significant than a blocked filter. A technician will look into your unit to diagnose the issue, ultimately saving you the headache.
Maintaining Your Air Conditioning Unit With Genuine Comfort
If you follow the steps above and nothing has worked, you’ll want a team of experts to help. You’ll want to avoid the discomfort of an overly warm home. Our team at Genuine Comfort can diagnose any problems with your air conditioning unit and prevent freezing up in the future. If you’re interested in scheduling with us, contact our team today.
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